#JobSearch : Tips to Craft a Resume Full of Achievements. Great Resume Tips!

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I work with clients every day who have a difficult time writing about themselves. We typically are not very objective when it comes to evaluating our work, looking at what we have accomplished.

If you are starting a resume from scratch, it can be overwhelming, especially if you are writing it yourself. Sometimes, you may think that you don’t even have enough achievements to fill an entire resume. If you have been working for more than a few years now, YOU DO. It’s all in the way you look at tasks you’ve done.

I work with clients every day who assume that the achievements must have numbers or metrics attached to them. Or, they’ll tell me, “Oh, well, that isn’t really a big deal. It’s just something I came up with to make that process easier.” They shrug off what would make a really good accomplishment. This is one reason it can be helpful to have a professional resume writer assist you in helping you in writing your resume. We just aren’t good at evaluating ourselves or promoting what we have done.

However, if you are writing your own resume, here are tips on how to gather valuable experience for crafting your resume.

☑️ Identify Strengths & Weaknesses

You may already know what your strengths and weaknesses are, but if not, talk to close, trusted colleagues or friends. You can also review past performance reviews and read what has been said about what you do well, and what areas you need to improve on. When you have identified them, you know what to highlight on your resume. If your strength is cultivating customer relationships, focus on that. (it may be another candidate’s weakness!).

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

☑️ Pay Attention to Daily Tasks

Start by reviewing your job description or making a list of tasks you do each day. These are usually the things that keep your department running smoothly. Just because you do them every day doesn’t mean they aren’t important. Review each of them and look for the strengths that you bring to them. Don’t discount them. What hole would there be if you didn’t do them.

☑️ What is Your Impact

Think back over the past months, even looking at your calendar for meetings you were a part of or conferences you may have attended. What have you contributed to or been a part of? What was the impact or result? Write down the specific results from the decisions made and include it.

☑️ Teams & Connections

We all develop connections at our jobs. Think through each of these relationships and how they may have impacted the company. Have you helped build new relationships? Did this create opportunities? Have you partnered with other teams to help lead an initiative? Your daily collaborations make a big difference.

Your resume is a marketing document, selling yourself to a potential employer. If you don’t write about the value you bring, how will they know.

FSC Career Blog Author:  Ms. Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog –  August 6, 2020

 

#YourCareer : 5 Powerful Reminders To Gain Your Courage To Change Careers. Great Read for All!

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In a career coaching session, a client recently said to me, “This is way deeper than I thought it would be. In a good way.” “Yes,” I replied. “This is about your freedom.”

When we think of career navigation we often think of skillsets, qualifications, strategy. We think it’s all about rationality and logical thinking. But when we get right down to it, our career choices are really emotional choices. There is a logic on the surface, but deep down that logic is really driven by our emotions – fears, insecurities, etc.

For example, sure, there’s a surface logic that says doing an MBA is a very smart decision, one you will gain from to advance your career. But deep down, what if there’s a small inner voice going, “But, I don’t really want to do any job that requires an MBA. I don’t really want to be on this path.” What if your heart is really in other pursuits? Or maybe you don’t even know what else you would do, just that you don’t genuinely enjoy what’s in front of you. But all that gets pushed aside because the MBA seems like a smart thing to do. And everyone is so encouraging and impressed with your choice. It’s too scary to confront your truth.

You are marching along into the MBA based on your fear. Not very logical close-up, is it? There’s a lot of not really listening to and being honest with ourselves and then later wondering what happened and why we’re so unhappy.

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

What’s actually the most rational and logical thing to do? To do a career that you enjoy, that’s a good fit for who you are. That’s how you’ll thrive, have the best chance of succeeding as you show the world your genius, and how you’ll get to enjoy your life. But many of us find ourselves very far from jobs that are in alignment with who we are. Those emotional aspects have hooked us and are driving the bus of our life. When we find ourselves in situations we don’t like, the first thing to look at is why. What was the real thinking behind these life/career choices?  

Here are 4 things you may find helpful as you reflect on this for yourself. Realizing these very logical truths will free yourself to do what you truly want. Often we can’t even access what that might be until we have seen through our flawed thinking. Otherwise, there is a level of noise and confusion in our head so loud it’s impossible to hear our own authentic inner voice.

If your reaction to this list is one of distrust, I understand. If someone had said these things to me 10 years ago I would have scoffed at them, thought believing them would just make me weak and take me off script from who I thought I needed to be. I was supposed to be a tough, no-nonsense high-achiever. And you don’t get to the top by being soft and giving yourself a pass (so I thought). But being that way broke me. I was miserable, my view of the world was so harsh and critical of myself and others, and my life was void of meaning and fulfillment. No humanity. Deep emptiness.

I only found my way after realizing the following points. They have become my truth and myself and my clients can attest that life can feel a whole lot better when you live life through this lens, which again, I argue is not a lens at all, but just what’s true. You can be the judge.

On with the list:

1. You are good enough just as you are 

Your job or professional accomplishments does not have any bearing on your worth. Accolades and gold stars do not fulfill and will never make you feel how you hope they will. The only thing that will make you feel good enough is owning that you already are. I know the world doesn’t feel like it reflects that back to you, but how do you want to live? And what’s really true to you? Do you believe anything can make one person more valuable as a human than another? I don’t.

Do not deny yourself by building a totally inauthentic life in the name of approval and earning love. Building your life from inauthenticity is building your life on precarious ground. It is a house of cards and it’s going to fall. Actually, if you’re lucky it will fall sooner than later and you’ll get to learn this life lesson and experience a much happier existence. One where you get to be you. You’re worthy of love without all the gold stars you’ve spent every waking moment of your life effortfully pursuing. It’s not necessary. And you can have the rest of your life back to do what you truly want.

2. You are the source of love

If we’re going to walk away from living our life for approval and earning love, where are we going to get it from? Ourselves. Approve of yourself, love yourself. You are the source of love you are looking for. Otherwise, we’re beholden to others dictating our life and we’ll cave to their instruction. We’ll do a lot for love, including suffer.

Who are some people we are all tangled up with in earning approval and love? Our parents. We’d all perhaps like to think as grown adults that our parents have no influence over our life anymore, but if you look closely you may see otherwise. Perhaps you got into this line of work to please them or show them something, and now you’re staying for fear of disappointing them, feeling unlovable or not stacking up to their expectations. It’s possible they will accept your new career direction, but either way, your freedom requires you to walk away from them in your mind. They may not genuinely care about who you are or what you want, but that’s not their job anymore, it’s yours. Move forward and walk tall in who you are with love for yourself.

3.  Your inner struggles are not a problem. There is nowhere to get

There’s an inner narrative that goes, “If only I overcame all my inner struggles I would be a grand success.” Your anxiety, your fears, your lack of self-confidence etc. are billed as a problem in the way of success. Many self-help books are sold on this premise. It’s fuel to beat yourself up about where you are in life and pick up a story of being broken, defective, not as good as imaginary others who are inner-struggle and problem free, living some fabulous life. But where are you trying to get by “fixing” yourself? My bet is on proving yourself, on getting somewhere “successful” to prove your worth. Oh yeah, all that stuff again. You do not need to work on yourself so you can get “out there” and earn your worth with more accolades.

Yes, do your inner work, but this is not a race. In fact, there isn’t anywhere to get other than you getting to enjoy your life. And a big step toward that is you accepting yourself just as you are. Ironically, that often brings true healing and the changes you want to see inside, but those changes are just to serve you, not an arrival. So, take all the pressure off.

 4. You are not alone, not different from anyone else

When we’re unhappy in our career it’s easy to look around and paint a false picture of everyone else being happy in theirs. You may think, “What’s wrong with me? What am I doing wrong? Why does this job feel terrible to me? How can other people be ok with this?” 

Some people may indeed be well suited to the work you’re doing, some not. For the latter, remember how excellent you are at hiding what’s really going on. Everyone else is too.

On one hand, we spend a lot of our lives trying to be extraordinary, different and special. And in many ways that have nothing to do with the metrics you’re using to measure, you in fact are. But, on the other hand, know that in struggling, in feeling lost, in experiencing pain and confusion, you are entirely not special. You are completely ordinary. And personally I think this is a relief to realize.

So stop worrying about what other people are thinking or doing. Just focus on you. There’s nothing wrong with you for not liking what you’re doing and the only thing you need to do is honor that.

5. You’re allowed to rest. Rest is the way.  

We do not need tough and merciless leaders forcing themselves to grind to the top in something they don’t like just to show they can and quell their fears of inadequacy. We need leaders who have come alive in their sweet-spot, who build from their truth and authentic gifts. We need compassionate, kind, heart-centered leaders that lead with their own humanity. That means you have to be in touch with yours. Even though it’s scary, even though it’s painful, even though it may change you in ways you’re not prepared and others may not understand your choices. That is the point. That’s how we create change in you and the world. And both will be all the better for it.

But how do you get from this perhaps almost burnt out, definitely exhausted state you’re in now, to there? You rest. You give yourself the time and space to stop the striving and nurture the only thing you have neglected in your life: you. You’ve spent your entire life with your head down on singular pursuit of something you’re now realizing you don’t even want and wasn’t even necessary to get the real fruit – worthiness, and after that was earned, rest. Give both to yourself now and you will truly flourish.

 

Forbes.com –  August 5, 2020  – Sara Young Wang – Contributor  ForbesWomen

 

 

#JobSearch : Why Executives Are Embracing LinkedIn Now More Than Ever. How’s your Profile?

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Executives are paying attention to their own careers in record numbers. In the last two weeks, I have worked with seven different executives who each wanted help writing their LinkedIn profile to reflect their personal or company brand better. Julie, a CEO, said, “I have ignored LinkedIn up to now. It wasn’t important enough, so I’ve got a bare-bones profile up. I realize that it may have been a key mistake. It seems many people are checking me out, and I am failing to impress them. As the company leader, I need to be prominent and display who I am, who my company is, and where we are going. I’m making time to do this now.”

Dan called, saying, “As a company VP of Sales, I’m getting bugged by my sales team to improve my own LinkedIn profile. Prospective customers are checking me out, looking at my LinkedIn profile to see who we are before they make that final decision to do business with us. I never thought about it that way. I need to show what we are doing and how I am successfully leading this team and our products, especially in this challenging time.”

Mike, an Operations VP, said, “I just lost my job when the company went under from COVID. I have been here for twenty years, and I do not have a LinkedIn profile at all. I’m really behind the eight-ball needing to get this up asap.”

Bill brought up another point. This CEO stated, “I should have been smarter about LinkedIn. My profile is weak because it wasn’t a priority. Our recruiters are saying that it is hurting us when they try to hire new employees. I didn’t think that prospective job candidates would check me out, but apparently, they are.”

Some executives are certainly doing it right

Manny Medina, a Founder and the CEO of Outreach, a Unicorn tech startup, is pretty savvy. Outreach sells a sales engagement platform and was founded in 2014 and now has 800 employees. Outreach elected to use LinkedIn as a marketing tool to grow its business from a tiny organization into a billion-dollar unicorn. They have found their niche, and they have focused on ensuring their top execs are all on display and active on LinkedIn.

Sam Nelson, a Sales Executive at Outreach, stands out on LinkedIn because he has blue hair. Having been at Outreach for a little over three years, Sam is a master at LinkedIn, having over 40,000 followers. (On LinkedIn you can have both connections and then people who elect to follow you.) “You can grow your following really fast on LinkedIn if you do it the right way,” says Nelson. “People get to know you very quickly using LinkedIn. You can control the message about yourself and your company.”

Every executive is busy, and some career development tasks just fall off the list. “We have found that having a completed and up-to-date LinkedIn Profile has a high ROI for your time. If you aren’t active on LinkedIn, then step one is creating a fully completed Profile.” If you haven’t done that, this Forbes series is a useful guide.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

Use a posting strategy

Nelson shared his secret for developing a following. “Write and post about something you know super, super well. Find an area you can be the best at and start sharing ideas. You can stand out in a very narrow, tiny niche and build a big following on LinkedIn.”

“People value authenticity and your own story, so give advice or tactics that are easy for people to implement. Share it in bite size pieces and make the advice things people can easily do. For example, I wrote about a young sales employee that did something, and the customer complained to the CEO. I wrote about how to respond to the employee as a manager saying, ‘hey we’ve got your back.’” This post showed an effective way for managers to handle the situation. The post got 55,000 views and 815 shares. “This advice is about a tiny subset of salespeople called SDR’s in the tech world, but the people responding are those who can exactly relate to this. It was shared with all these people’s networks demonstrating the reach this social media has. I post several times a week using all my own original content,” says Nelson.

Turn your employees into ambassadors

There is some challenge in getting your employees all onboard to become company ambassadors. As an executive, you need to get employees to participate and share. Outreach seems to have mastered this agenda item, and it helps in bringing in more customers and in hiring top talent. Outreach encourages its employees to be active on LinkedIn. “It starts with executives who share messages from ANYBODY and EVERYBODY in the company,” notes Nelson. “Sharing encourages employees to feel valued, and then employees are likely to share an upcoming event, a product announcement, or job opening. Another employee adds something and shares. This action brings visibility to the company’s name, so the company brand is getting broader exposure. It also helps in bringing in more customers and in hiring top talent.”

Author: Robin Ryan: Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.

Forbes.com –  August 4, 2020

#YourCareer : 3 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Asking For A Raise. A MUst REad for All!

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Job interviews are stressful: talking about where you see yourself in five years, being asked about your weaknesses, and then of course, the dreaded question about your desired salary. What’s even more stressful is asking your boss for a raise down the road once you land the job. Let’s face it, talking about money likely makes you feel pretty uncomfortable.

This discomfort is something almost everyone feels, though according to a recent study, women are twice as likely to feel uncomfortable discussing their salary.

While the Equal Pay Act went into effect roughly 60 years ago, there is still a great discrepancy in the workplace, with women on average earning 17.2% less than men. Even in female-dominated jobs, women are still paid less than men. This discrepancy may come down to not only how women ask for more money, but if they do so at all.

Here are three of the most common mistakes I see employees make when asking for a raise.

1. Using the performance review meeting.

While it might sound like your annual review is the best to time talk about salary, this isn’t your best bet on getting the salary boost you want. Your boss will likely come into the conversation with a setpoint already in mind, one that is perhaps already approved by HR.

Instead, I suggest starting the conversation 90 days prior to your scheduled performance review.  Chances are, you know when review season is coming, so set something up at the beginning of the business’s quarter.

Career Tip: Build rapport first.

During this time, focus on building a stronger rapport, not only with your boss and immediate team, but with a broader set of employees within the organization. Nothing will position you better than someone from another department reaching out to your boss to let them know how great you are.

You must look at your career as more than a set of skills you are proficient at executing.  Put on your business development hat and realize, no matter what your job is, you are there to contribute to the organization’s bottom line. When it comes to building rapport, also look outside of the organization and see what relationships you can build that will support the business itself. This could mean finding new suppliers to work with, networking with potential new customers, or sparking conversations with top talent to hire onto your team.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

2. Taking things personally.

Your career may feel highly personal to you, but we must remember that hiring comes from a very transactional mindset: the business has a need, and they’re paying for talent to fill it. This hiring need has nothing to do with the cost of your rent, the stress of your debt, or anything relating to your personal needs. For this reason, never bring your personal circumstances into a conversation about a raise. The truth is, your salary should only correlate with the responsibilities you carry within the company.

By nature, the word raise means “more” and it’s important to recognize there is a difference between what you need and what you deserve. If you want more pay at work, you need to either do more or create better results.  In the competitive nature of the job market, especially with over 44 million Americans filing for unemployment (as of June 2020), the job market is highly competitive, and it’s in the employers favor right now.

Career Tip: Have a vision for your future.

When you walk into the conversation, have a clear vision for what’s possible with the organization, and how your skills align with it. A raise is your employer’s way of investing more into you, so be willing to enroll them in a vision of what you can execute on is key. This means sharing the types of projects you want to work on, the role you hope to step into one day, and the missions of the business you are passionate to become a part of. This will make your boss feel more confident in investing further into you, not just on a compensation level, but also when it comes to assigning new projects or opening up career opportunities.

3. Not asking at all.

This is by far the biggest mistake I see in the workforce, and I get it. Asking for more money can feel slimy, but if you don’t, you’re missing out. Before you shy away from the topic altogether, realize that if you don’t negotiate, you’re losing out on roughly $500,000 throughout the course of your career . So, if you plan on providing for yourself or a family, know that the decision against negotiating translates into a serious lifetime loss. Within the workforce, 66% percent of workers don’t ask, but of those that do, almost 70% receive higher pay.

Career Tip: Take initiative and be prepared.

Don’t sit around and dream for those dollar signs to drop into your bank account, schedule an official conversation with your manager that is dedicated to your salary.  Don’t try and slide this topic at the bottom of a meeting agenda, treat the topic with respect. According to research, the most successful strategies for getting more money were in-person meetings (48.2%) along with researching the salary range of similar positions for comparison (33.5%).

Be as prepared as possible heading into the meeting to set your nerves at ease. Because talking about money is uncomfortable, I always advise my clients to approach the topic with a neutral, strong tone. In fact, say it like you’re ordering a sandwich—unemotionally and matter-of-factly.

Prior to the meeting, spend time thinking about what you have done for the organization and how you have contributed to the business’s success. Ask yourself, do you think you deserve a raise? If the answer is an honest “no,” begin to take on more responsibilities, speak up more during meetings, and be willing to go that extra mile. You will be able to walk into the conversation feeling like you both need and deserve a higher level of compensation.

What if your request is met with a “no”? Don’t be afraid to ask why. The data is in: while 36% of women don’t do anything after initially being denied, 42% of men asked why they were denied, 13.6% negotiated nonmonetary benefits, and 38.6% started looking for a new job. It comes down to being assertive and knowing your value.

Making the decision to negotiate and ask for a raise will create respect from your employer and will position you on the right side of some fairly polarizing statistics.

Realize that you are more than just a number, a number that has nothing to do with your worth.

And yet, be willing to fight for compensation that aligns with the contribution you’re making..

Don’t do it just for you, consider the salary negotiation a push to increase the bar for everyone. Think about it, your choice to ask for more money raises the bar of your job title and industry as a whole.

If you want to win big, you have to stop playing small.

 

Forbes.com – August 3, 2020 – Ashley Stahl

#YourCareer : Personal Branding For People 50+. Yes, we Know that Age Discrimination in Hiring and Promotions is Alive and Well.

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Personal branding is essential for every career-minded professional, whether you’re looking to land your first internship or you’ve just been promoted to the C-Suite. It helps you stand out from your peers and gives you the opportunity to become influential and indispensable—not to mention incredibly happy at work.

But personal branding is nuanced and takes on different areas of focus depending on where you are in your career and which generation you’re part of. I have seen a lot of discussions lately about career prospects, concerns and opportunities for people who are 50+. Fawn Germer, author of the upcoming book Coming Back: How to Get the Job You Want When You’ve Lost the Job You Need put it this way “The rules changed for those of us who are middle aged. We saw our parents start a career and get rewarded with respect, money and opportunity the older they got.

These days, the word “experienced” seems to be equated with the words “has been.” Since we’ve been around the longest, many of us are drawing the highest salaries in the room, but it is not lost on management that younger, less-expensive employees can deliver more because they truly are tech savvy and up on trends. It’s on us to re-educate ourselves and broadcast a brand of relevance and viability. The bad news is that it takes some effort. The good news is that really, it’s not that hard.”

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

So how can people in this age group ensure that their personal brand traits keep them relevant, compelling, influential and in demand in this new all-digital world of work? Whether you’re happily employed or seeking your next big gig, here’s how to position yourself for success and fulfillment if your chronological age exceeds 49.

Start with authenticity. Effective personal branding is always rooted in authenticity, not blatant self-promotion. Wendy Marx, author of Thriving at 50+ and a reinvention and personal branding coach, said “Personal branding doesn’t come naturally to many 50+ people – they often are unaccustomed to promoting themselves. They think their credentials and experience speak for themselves and that branding is unnecessary spin. Actually, your personal brand is being true to yourself, while making yourself accessible and engaging.”

These five actions help you accentuate your differentiating attributes, showcase your expertise, and exude genuine confidence while eliminating impediments—both real and perceived.

Master the Mindset

Yes, we know that age discrimination in hiring and promotions is alive and well. At the same time, we know that if you tell yourself you are at a disadvantage or you focus on how unfair the world of work can be to the 50+ set, you’re putting yourself on the back foot. “On the back foot,” which by the way comes from cricket, means putting the weight on your back foot because you’re having to play defense. That’s no way to move forward in a career, or anywhere else. Instead, put your best foot forward with a positive mindset. These messages likely apply to you and should be your mantras:

  • I have deep knowledge that makes me compelling and differentiated
  • My years of work give me an edge over younger, less experienced professionals
  • My confidence and strong sense of self make me ideal for dealing with change
  • I have a long track record of delivering exceptional results

Develop Digital Dexterity

If you’re 50+, you were not born with fingers on keyboards that opened the doors to the whole world. Companies need every employee to be internet savvy and digitally fit regardless of role, function and yes, age. Today, every job is digitally enabled on some level. Whether you work in market research, customer service or sales, being digitally savvy is essential. Resume.io advises clients that “employers need to know that you’re as technically proficient as someone 20 years younger.” Prove that you’re up to date with the latest tools and platforms by including them in your resume. This includes skills you’ve learned in lockdown; research by The Knowledge Academy states it can take as little as 10 days to learn a new technical skill!

Deliver A Powerful First Impression

Today, people will form their first impressions of you online. When someone wants to check you out, they’ll turn to Google. And what Google says about you is who you are. When your online ID shows that you are vibrant, innovative, confident and engaged, people who are checking you out will want to get to know you. Start with your LinkedIn About because it will be the most-read version of your bio. Use it to demonstrate your credibility and likability.

Show Your Social Savvy

One way to demonstrate your digital fitness is through social media. Now, before you moan or stress out, consider this: You can create a powerful online social media presence in just 9 minutes a day as long as you make a daily commitment. And you need not be visible on every platform from Instagram to Tik Tok, LinkedIn to SlideShare, YouTube to Facebook. Focus on LinkedIn (it’s truly the most powerful professional social network) and just one other tool where your target audience can always be found.

Master Video

If you’re interviewing for a new job, you’ll be doing a lot of video interviews. The interview itself is an opportunity to show that you’re on top of the latest and probably most prevalent form of business communications. When you master video, you’ll stand out in all the ways that matter. That means being skilled at both synchronous video (Zoom meetings, Webex, Google Hangouts) and asynchronous video (videos to demonstrate thought leadership, video messages from you sent to people on your team, clients, etc.). Even those who do a lot of video meetings aren’t terribly skilled at it. This previous article will help you understand what you need in order to avoid being an on-camera catastrophe.

Being 50+ is a career asset when you adopt the mindset. Apply these strategies so that your personal brand becomes all about one important fact: You offer something unique and highly valuable.

Author: William Arruda is a founder of CareerBlast and co-creator of BrandBoost – a video-based personal branding talent development experience.

 

Forbes.com – August 2, 2020

#JobSearch : Why Your Online Job Search Strategy Is Failing You (And How To Fix It). A MUst REad!

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If you’re looking for a new job and haven’t received a lot of bites from the online applications you’ve sent, you’re not alone.

Waking up to an empty inbox after emailing countless resumes can be frustrating and demoralizing, which can further hinder your job search efforts. And although a weak consolation, it may be helpful to know it’s not your fault. Unfortunately, the odds are against you in an online search. Here are some stats you need to know:

Taken together, it’s clear networking has a distinct advantage over online applications. However, networking isn’t a speedy process. Building relationships takes time and if you’re in a dire situation, you may feel this isn’t an option (yet, you already have a network and it may be more robust and helpful than you realize – see here).

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

So, your best bet may be a combined approach – spend time cultivating your network while also strategically applying to open roles you find posted on the internet. Here’s a step-by-step process to get started:

  1. Update your LinkedIn. Whether you’re building new connections or conducting an online search, your LinkedIn profile will be one of the first stops most people make to get to know you. Ensure you have a professional photo, results-oriented “About” section that connects your strengths to the outcomes you provide and brand alignment with your target career goal. This will not only clearly communicate to others what value you provide to the marketplace, but also may help recruiters and others looking to hire to find you! Bonus step: While you’re at it, clean up your social media, removing questionable content that may cause an employer to think twice about hiring you.
  2. Build your LinkedIn connections. One of the most overlooked advantages of building a robust list of 1st level contacts on LinkedIn is how this exponentially increases your 2nd level connections. It’s often these 2nd level contacts who lead to job opportunities. Scroll through your text messages or emails to find people you may not yet have connected with on LinkedIn. Consider dormant contacts – those former colleagues, old neighbors, college friends, etc. you’ve lost touch with over the years – and send a personalized message asking to re-connect. Don’t discount people you see a few times each year like your dental hygienist, accountant, or barber. You never know who may be in someone’s network. Bonus step: Reach out to recruiters who work for companies on your target list, with a brief personalized message of what you value about their organization.
  3. Create your target company list. Even if you’re applying to roles online, you don’t want to only be reactive to what pops up in your search. It’s helpful to be proactive by creating a list of companies you’re interested in and immersing yourself in learning about their market updates, searching your contacts (1st and 2nd level) for who you may know (or wish to meet), and watching their progress to anticipate hiring needs. Follow your top companies on social media and create Google alerts to stay updated without losing a lot of time. Bonus step: Steve Dalton’s “2-Hour Job Search” is a methodical, detailed process for building a robust target company list.
  4. Follow up. Taking a one and done approach to applying to jobs online will mean a lot of waiting and little progress. Identify the recent roles you’ve applied to and begin to search your 1st and 2nd level contacts for connections. Then, reach out to ask for advice or insight on how you can make your application more competitive. Also, don’t hesitate to send a brief, diplomatic message to the recruiter (or hiring manager if you can find that information on LinkedIn, which you often can), to let them know you’ve applied for the job and are interested in the opportunity to share more about your background. This may prompt them to review your LinkedIn profile (which is now a fantastic representation of the value you offer to their industry), and even potentially get you fished out of the ATS abyss if your application landed there. In the online hiring game, you need every advantage, so don’t be a passive bystander. Bonus step: If you find a connection willing to shepherd your application directly to the hiring manager or HR, ask. There may even be an employee referral bonus in it for them if you get hired.
  5. Write for the machine. While you may be tempted to use creative formatting to make your resume stand out, the online application isn’t the place to demonstrate your skill with specialized fonts and fancy templates. Since most companies use Application Tracking Systems (ATS), without a direct referral you’ll be at the whim of the technology. There are several different ATS platforms with some of the more popular being Taleo, iCIMS, Jobvite and Workday. Pay attention to the file type needed (e.g., if they ask for a .pdf, don’t submit a Word doc), and use key words from the job description. Bonus step: Confirm your resume was received. Although having an internal employee shepherd it to the hiring manager is best, emailing the recruiter (LinkedIn is also acceptable, although I wouldn’t recommend an actual invite at this early stage) to politely verify receipt is completely acceptable and may be the difference between getting an interview or receiving an autogenerated rejection.
  6. Include a compelling cover letter. You may have seen mixed reviews on this step. A popular data point circulating is only 7% of cover letters are read, but remember that’s out of the 25% that make it through the ATS. Plus, I’ll let you in on a secret – your cover letter will only get read if your resume passes muster, so that’s another reason the statistic may be so low. Once it’s determined you have the skills to move to the next round, a recruiter will want to learn a bit more about why you’re looking. The cover letter serves this purpose, and a tailored one will increase your chances of getting an interview. Bonus step: Skip the generic cover letter. It’s obvious if you don’t invest and will reflect poorly. If you’re applying to so many roles you don’t have time to tailor the letter, then it may be wise to re-evaluate your approach. You may be throwing spaghetti at the wall just to see what sticks and this is an obvious (and disliked) strategy to recruiters, and a waste of time for you.
  7. Have a different conversation with the people you know. While building new relationships takes time, you already have a group of family, friends and others in the community who already love and trust you. And, they’d likely be happy to help you succeed in your career. Be specific about what you’re looking for, including company names or people in their network you’d like to be introduced to. The people closest to you are likely regularly asking about your search, so don’t change the subject or shy away from this conversation. Actively be ready for this question with an ask. While your friends don’t have jobs falling out of their pockets, they do have connections you don’t know. Bonus step: Compile a personal board of directors to assist with your search. Perhaps you have 3 – 4 friends or family members who are open to help and able to be objective. They can give you feedback on your resume, partner with you on mock interviews and keep an eye out for potential opportunities. The average tenure in a role is about 4.2 years, so you can offer to return the favor when it’s their turn to make a pivot.
  8. Use your time wisely. You’ve likely heard, “finding a new job is a full-time job” and that can feel pretty true. Since we all have a finite amount of time and energy, divvy up your resources wisely by spending more time building your connections and relationships than applying online. Not only will you increase your odds on the online jobs you apply for when you’re able to begin to find referrals, but you’ll open up your options to opportunities that may never make it to the internet. Bonus step: Carve out some of your time to assist others, whether in their job search or with other challenges. Generosity is one of the best ways to build relationships.

Happy hunting!

 

 

Forbes.com –  July 27, 2020  –  Dawn Graham

#JobSearch : How To Successfully Self-Motivate Yourself To Seek Out A New Job. As you Face the Adversities, Recall Why you’re Enduring the Torture.

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You may have just lost your job—joining over 53 million other Americans—or have been in between roles for months now. You may be part of the millions of folks who are worried if they’ll be downsized too.

 

In the face of a never-ending lockdown, crumbling economy and horrific job market, it’s excruciatingly hard to get up out of bed each morning and motivate yourself to start your job search. For many people, life is like the Groundhog Day movie, as everyday is endlessly repeating itself.

No matter how down and out you feel and want to pull the covers over your head and stay in bed all day long, you must fight back against this desire. You can’t give up. Dig deep and find the inner strength to push forward; otherwise, you’ll never find a job. Yes, it’s easier said than done.

Here’s what you need to do to get yourself motivated each and every day.

Start With Little Baby Steps

We all hope to get what we want right away. In this environment, it won’t be easy to find a new job in short order. This will be a long and arduous journey, but it’s achievable and you will prevail.

Start with small incremental steps. Push yourself to get off the couch. Stop scrolling through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. When Netflix sends the message asking if you’re still watching—because you’ve been binge-watching for six hours—it’s time to shut off the television.

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

Prepare An Attack Plan 

You can’t get anywhere if you don’t know where you’re going. Establish a goal for yourself. Know the type of job you want and the companies you’d like to work for. Then, start searching job boards for openings at these places and seek out the hiring managers and others who could get you in the door.

Update your LinkedIn profile and résumé. Tailor them for the specific jobs you’re applying for. Build your network. Introduce yourself to recruiters that specialize in your niche.

Change Your Mindset And Improve Your Game 

Start weeding out all of the toxic people in your life that are holding you back. You don’t have to discard them, but—perhaps—put them on a temporary mute. Find a group of people who are mutually supportive, positive, like-minded and make you feel good about yourself. This will be your tribe that you can kick around ideas, share job leads and commiserate with.

Interviewing in this current environment is like entering a Tough Mudder challenge, along with participating in a marathon and triathlon all rolled up into one event. You’ll be forced to drag yourself through the muck, scale walls and leap over seemingly insurmountable obstacles in your path. Even when you are totally exhausted, you must find inner strength to keep going until you reach your goal.

To have the endurance for this overwhelming feat, you should start a regiment of eating healthily and getting sufficient sleep and exercise. Cut out the junk food, alcohol consumption and drugs. Eat right, sleep well and exercise. You should have a balanced diet and workout routine, go to sleep early and wake up early. If you don’t do this, you’ll constantly feel tired, rundown, cranky and irritable. These traits don’t go over well in your interviews.

Talk To Yourself Like You Would To A Person In Need

We’re all our own worst critics. We constantly look back at all of the bad decisions we’ve made over the years. Negative thoughts are allowed to run rampant through your mind. You need to change the way you talk to yourself. Start by being kind. Forgive yourself of all of your former mistakes and faults. Reach out to people you’ve wronged and apologize to them for your transgressions.

Then, start replacing the self-defeating ruminations with positive affirmations. Make a mental list of all of your strong points and positive attributes. When the bad thoughts start creeping in, immediately substitute and remind yourself of all of your awesome qualities.

Celebrate Each Tiny Victory

Your ultimate goal may be finding a new job. This could take a long time. You need to reward yourself for all of the little victories along the way. Savor every small win. Keep each win—no matter how tiny—in your memory bank. When you’re feeling down and out, replay each and every time something positive happened or when you overcame obstacles in the past. It will boost your confidence and remind you that you’ve confronted and surmounted tough times in the past.

 Find Your Larger Purpose 

It helps to keep motivated when you have a larger purpose guiding you. Think of the reasons why you want to find a job—above and beyond securing employment. Is it that you will be able to have sufficient funds to buy a home, pay for your kids’ college, save for a long retirement or give money to charity and the needy?

As you face the adversities attendant with the job search, recall why you’re enduring the torture. Having a purpose and working toward a meaningful goal can power you through the darkest days.o

 

Forbes.com –  July 28, 2020 – Jack Kelly  Senior Contributor

#JobSearch : How To Elevate Your Confidence And Succeed In The Interview. A MUst REad for All !

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When you’ve lost your job or are deathly afraid that you’re next in line to be downsized, it’s easy to lose your self-confidence. It’s understandable to question yourself. “Did I do something wrong? I’m one of the hardest workers at the office. Why was it me?” Even if you intellectually acknowledge that you were part of a large-scale layoff, you still feel awful.

It’s hard to shake it off. You avoid friends, family and former co-workers, as you don’t want to talk about the job loss. The well-meaning sentiments saying that they’re “sorry” kind of make you feel worse.

This feeling follows you around and into the interview process. You’re a little off your game. You don’t speak with the same authority you used to have. There’s a sense of foreboding and dread—waiting for the moment when they ask about the reasons surrounding your downsizing. You start to stumble, get a little agitated and come across somewhat defensive. After the interview is over, you know you didn’t do your best and now feel even worse.

It’s not your fault. Over 53 million Americans are out of work and many more millions are worried about losing their jobs. This is a common occurrence. Even in the best of job markets, people lose their jobs.

You may think that it’s just you because most people generally don’t talk about the bad things that happen to them. When asked how you are doing, most people respond, “I’m doing great!”  Since you believe them, you wonder why everyone is doing well and you’re not, which chips away at your self-worth.

Here’s what you can do to rebuild and elevate your confidence.

Knowledge Is Power

Learn everything you can about the company and the people you’re interviewing with before the meeting. You want to know what the company does, its products and services, how the company compares to its competitors, recent news updates, stock price, employee turnover, management team and reputation.

Look up the interviewers and their managers on LinkedIn and other social media platforms. Find out if you know people in common, if you went to the same schools, they live close by to where you reside, the sports teams they root for, the backgrounds of people they’ve recently hired and other relevant data points that can come in handy during the interview.

As you accumulate all of this intelligence, it will infuse you with confidence. You’ll probably know more about the company than some of the interviewers and believe that you already have a good feel for the people you’re interviewing with. This increased knowledge will make you feel smarter, ready to go and more confident.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

Spend A Lot Of Time Preparing For The Interview

Nothing helps build confidence more than having faith in your experience, skills, background and talents. Take the time to thoroughly review the job description and learn as much as possible about the role. Then, think of how your skills relate to the demands of the role. Write down all of the positive attributes and experiences you possess that are highly relevant for the job.

Prepare an elevator pitch, in which you can sell yourself. Practice the pitch over and over again. Rehearse it out loud, as it always sounds better in your head compared to when you first tell it to someone else.

Think of all the types of questions that they may ask you and craft your answers. Practice them as well. You don’t have to memorize it, as it could come across too robotic. It’s preferable for some of your answers to be a little raw, as it shows that you’re speaking directly from the heart.

All of this preparation and practice will elevate your confidence. You’ll go in excited, as you can’t wait to share all of the great and valid reasons as to why you’re the best fit for the role.

Turn Your Negative Thoughts Into Positive Beliefs

Many people go into interviews thinking that the odds are stacked against them—given what’s going on. With that attitude, you will lose the battle before it’s even begun. Put aside all of the negative thoughts racing around through your mind. Replace them with positive affirmations. “I will get this job. I am uniquely qualified for the role. I can offer value and make your company a better place.” Fill in your own mantras. Keep repeating them to yourself. They will soon replace all of the negative thoughts.

One of the secrets of hiring managers is that they simply want people who can come into work and get things done without being difficult. It’s enlightened self-interest, as this type of job seeker makes the boss’ life easier. If the employees are doing well, it’s a positive reflection on the manager. When the hiring manager senses your knowledge, enthusiasm, motivation, drive and confidence, they’ll believe that you can and will get the job done and be interested in hiring you.

 

Author: Jack KellySenior Contributor Careers  

Forbes.com –  July 27, 2020 

#JobSearch : 5 Job Search Situations Where Networking Is Not The Best Next Step. Networking is Helpful Only When You are Prepared.

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Networking is so helpful to a job search that one might assume it’s the right next step in all situations. However, this is not the case, and trying to get a networking meeting rather than taking another, more appropriate action can even hurt your job search. Every impression counts. The questions you ask, the help you ask for and the information that you don’t know all make an impression during your networking.

Here are five job search situations where networking is not the best next step – and what to do instead:

1 – You have no idea what you want

Sure, it’s helpful to talk to things out with other people, and that’s true for getting ideas for your career. However, when you approach people as someone who doesn’t know what they want, you appear undecided (commitment issue?), unsure (confidence problem?) or unprepared (laziness?). The other person might be willing to brainstorm with you, but they also might feel like it’s too big a question to solve. How would they know what you should do with your life?

Don’t network about anything too general. Have at least some idea of potential career moves, and use the meeting to test these specific ideas. Do research in advance about what your target careers would entail, and tailor your questions to how the other person can specifically help you. For example, if you are looking to switch industries and have narrowed down your possibilities to media and tech, reserve the media questions for your media connections and the tech questions for your tech connections. This way, you appear focused, prepared and respectful of their time.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

2 – The questions you have can be answered by basic research

I once heard from a graduate of my alma mater, who wanted to talk about her career change into management consulting. At the time, I had just pivoted my own career from management consulting to executive search but with a management consulting focus, so it made sense that this person would want to speak with me. Since we had so much in common – same school, both career changers – I readily agreed. (Pointing out common affinities is an effective way to land networking meetings!) However, her opening question for me was to name the top companies in the field.

Don’t ask questions that can be answered by basic research. Do that research in advance, and use the networking meetings to verify the information or get nuanced information. For example, had this alum let me know what she was seeing as the top competitors mentioned in the field and then asked if I agreed or asked if I would name different companies based on her interest in a specific sub-area, then I would have seen her as someone who had put in some work and was going the extra step. Instead, I felt used that she wanted to shortcut her research and just ask for the answers.

3 – The contact who offers to refer you to HR doesn’t know you well

It is always helpful to get someone inside the company to pass on your resume for a job opening. However, it is less helpful when the person referring you doesn’t know you at all. Therefore, if you have a networking meeting with someone at a company where there is an open job that you want, but you do not know that person well, I would not ask that person to submit your resume. If they offer to submit it, I would thank them profusely and I would possibly let them submit it later, but first I would ask for information (here are eight better things to ask for than a generic introduction to HR).

When a networking contact doesn’t know you well, any referral they make on your behalf isn’t going to be that strong. At best, it will be something like, “I have never worked with this person but we have a mutual friend who knows great people so this person must be great.” Maybe, but now the recruiter or hiring manager has to believe that you’re such a good judge of people that you have vetted that your friend can vet their friends – that’s a long chain of trust. It may make the company give you a second glance, but if the hiring team has any doubts, your tenuous networking contact won’t be able to advocate for you and probably won’t want to put themselves on the line. They may even have offered to submit your resume just to cut the meeting short and will be a lukewarm advocate at best.

4 – You reach a recruiter who doesn’t hire for what you want

Yes, recruiters are great networking connections to have and not just for your immediate job search. Experienced recruiters have knowledge of their market, a broad perspective on career issues and a wide network. Recruiters are definitely on the top 10 list of people you should have in your network.

However, many recruiters specialize in a specific industry or function, and if you are outside that area, then a recruiter’s knowledge, feedback and network will be less relevant to you. If a recruiter is internal to a company, they will be most relevant about jobs specific to that company, and your networking efforts should be focused on multiple companies. Too many job seekers make reaching recruiters, any recruiters, a top priority. It’s best to focus on hiring managers, who are the ultimate decision-makers, or recruiters in your target area. To reach these people, you need to have a background that clearly shows your value to them. If your resume, LinkedIn profile and responses to commonly asked questions don’t yet make that value crystal-clear, focus on these supporting tools first before you squander a networking meeting.

5 – You reach a recruiter who hires for what you want – but you’re a career changer

If you are a career changer, recruiters are not helpful, even if they specialize in the area you want. I say that as a recruiter and a multiple-time career changer – I would never hire myself! A recruiter’s job is to filter people out, not make an exception, and a career changer is always the exception. If you are a career changer and you have existing recruiter relationships from your former career, these recruiters may be even less helpful if they try to convince you to stay where you are (after all, that’s where they can place you).

It’s always more effective to network with a hiring manager than with a recruiter, and for career changers this is even more important because it’s the hiring manager that can make an exception. However, networking whether it’s with the recruiter or the hiring manager is not the best move for a career changer, until you have something to talk about in your new career. If you don’t have knowledge of your new area and some demonstrated results (it can be from volunteer work or consulting, not just another job), then talking to people, especially influential people like hiring managers and recruiters, is premature.

Networking is helpful only when you are prepared

I certainly don’t want to discourage networking as part of your job search. People hire people, so it is critical that you connect with people and not just submit your resume to faceless job postings. That said, you want to make the right impression when you network. You want to appear focused, knowledgeable and prepared. The person you’re networking with can refer you to be hired, if not hire you outright. You don’t want to squander that opportunity for your job search.

 

Author:   Caroline Ceniza-Levine

Join my Land A Job You Love coaching group, starting on August 5. Details and sign up at SixFigureStart.com/ Group-Coaching. Get custom feedback on your job search based

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Forbes.com –  July 26, 2020

#JobSearch : How to Create an Effective Job Search Plan. The Landscape of Job Searching has Changed Drastically Over the Years.

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Not too many people truly enjoy the time they spend searching for a new job. While working with an executive resume writer can be an enjoyable and pleasant experience, it’s not the first place executives want to be at any given day. Sometimes you can’t control how long it takes an employer to hire a candidate, but you can take some steps to use your time more wisely and shorten the search process.

Here are a few effective time management tips to consider when job searching.

Know Exactly What You Want

Think about your past experience, what value you bring to the table, and what you actually want to do. There may be some aspects that are non-negotiable, so be sure to identify those in your thought process. Just remember to be realistic in this regard so you don’t eliminate yourself from too many potential jobs. Once you know exactly what you want out of a job, you can start writing an effective resume geared toward it.

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

Be Realistic When Setting Goals

If you’re unemployed and looking for a job, it’s usually unrealistic to think you can spend eight hours per day on a job search. Burnout is just as real with a job search as it is with jobs themselves, so consider designating a couple of hours each day to work hard at it. This can involve visiting a professional resume writing service, networking, tweaking your social media profiles, and more. Setting realistic goals will help you prevent burnout and keep you motivated.

Network

Many job openings are filled through networking rather than through traditional channels. Your time can be spent wisely by attending and actively participating in networking events. You never know whom you might meet at these events, so always be sure to bring your best. And it’s wise to also ask an executive resume writer to take a look at your resume to ensure it’s polished and ready to go.

Get Professional Advice with Your Resume

You don’t want to waste any time sending out resumes with mistakes on them. You could essentially be spinning your wheels with your job search and not even know it. Get ahead of any potential issues by working with a professional resume writing service upfront. They can help identify and fix any problems on your resume and modernize it for today’s job searching landscape to make your time be spent more efficiently.

The landscape of job searching has changed drastically over the years. The days of looking in newspapers or job boards are gone, especially for executive level positions. You need to have a game plan in place and work your plan to achieve your ultimate goal.

 

FSC Career Blog Author:  Ms. Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

FSC Career Blog –  July 27, 2020