#JobSearch : Talking Yourself Up on your Resume. Your resume is the place to SELL YOURSELF. Think of Yourself as a Product.

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Are you bragging about yourself enough on your resume? I don’t mean bragging in an obnoxious or fictitious sort of way, but in a “look what I can do” sort of way.

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           Question: How do you stand out?

One of the main things I notice with my clients and their existing resumes is that they don’t BRAG enough about their accomplishments. They don’t talk enough about what they’ve done above and beyond their daily responsibilities.

My worksheets are very C.A.R.-oriented. The C.A.R. methodology is this Challenge, Action, Results. What Challenge did you face? What Action did you take to rectify it? And lastly, what were the Results? It is a very accomplishment- focused method and works wonderfully every time I have a client who doesn’t talk enough.

When I send these out to clients, I am amazed at the achievements that come pouring out. Why did it take sending a worksheet to get this VITAL information out of them? I ask each client. The response is generally the same– either, “I didn’t know how to word it” or “I didn’t want to sound too braggy”. Many of us were raised to be humble about our accomplishments, not to be boastful. I know I was. Not that we couldn’t be PROUD, but it was just kept a little on the quiet side.

Here are a few tips about bragging in a non-braggy way on your resume to get yourself noticed:

1) List your daily responsibilities clearly in your narrative under the job title. Even the ones you think aren’t worth being mentioned. If there are too many for more than a 5 or 6 line paragraph, then summarize.

2) Think of each thing you did in that made a difference, something you were praised for, something that saved the company money. Readers LOVE to hear how you saved the company money or drove revenue by 43%, etc. For example:

** Currently implementing a new sales method that will eliminate 6 trucks from the road and save company $45,000/year.

 

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

Article continued …

3) Add the accomplishment, even if it has a negative undertone or you were fighting challenging conditions. For example:

** Despite negative sales growth in Michigan’s harsh economic climate, met the challenge of producing positive topline growth successfully while managing net revenue and contributing to margin gains.

See how this one sounded? Even though my client struggled the last 2 years and saw a -2.2% sales decrease, to her company this was a good thing because of Michigan’s dismal economic climate.

4) Your resume is the place to SELL YOURSELF. Think of yourself as a product. What would you buy? The new ‘OKAY’ car model that has all the basics and does its job but has nothing super special about it? Or would you buy the ‘WOW, THIS CAR IS AWESOME’ car that is fully loaded, has a mini fridge in the dash, and wings to automatically make you airborne if traffic looks too heavy? The ‘WOW’ car may cost you a bit more, but isn’t it worth it? The same goes with your salary… but that is an article for another time. You have to sell yourself and turn yourself into the ‘WOW’ car. You have what it takes, you just need to put it on paper.

I hope this helps you rethink that bland little ‘OK’ statement, “streamlined processes and increased productivity” with something more ‘WOW!’. Let’s face it, we all want the WOW! car.

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 10, 2020

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#JobSearch : Stand Out In Today’s Crowded Job Market. Great Read for All!

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Unemployment is soaring, companies are folding, and the future of the economy is unclear at best. For senior-level and executive professionals who are looking for a new job, this means that what worked for a month ago simply will not make the cut today. Today’s hiring climate demands not just patience and persistence, but a fundamental shift in job searching strategies. Key among them is ensuring that you don’t just make a good impression, you make a lasting impression.

Standing out and sticking in peoples’ memories is going to be more critical, and more difficult than ever before. As an executive, it’s more important than ever to zero-in on your expertise and take a strategic approach to your job search efforts. Here are a few steps that you can take to make sure you present yourself as a candidate that companies need to hire.

Update and Upgrade Your Marketing Assets

Your guiding word for your job search should be “targeted.” In order to have a finely-tuned search, you need to have finely tuned personal marketing materials. This includes your resume, but also any other assets that show off your brand, your achievements, and your experience. Before you begin your search, take a moment to write down what you bring to the table from an employer’s perspective, not from your own. For example, you want to change “I lead cross-functional, international teams” to “I ensure that companies’ cross-functional teams around the world are highly coordinated and effective, driving revenue and innovation.” Once you define your core offering, evaluate all of your materials to make sure they each drive a consistent message.

While you’re working on your marketing, remember to highlight your soft skills alongside your achievements. Soft skills are the key to implementing a vision and being a successful manager. Highlighting such skills on your resume can truly set you apart from the other candidates. When building your resume remember to weave soft skill examples into accomplishments and job responsibilities. Even if it’s not something you realized at the time, you likely used soft skills such as communication, empowerment, and decision-making every day. When it comes to your resume, just remember to highlight how each played a part in your success. The pandemic has served to make companies more empathetic to individual needs and you want to show that you’re a capable and personable leader.

Need to Pivot? Work From the Inside Out.

Shifting industries at the senior or executive level is challenging, but it can be done. If, in particular, the opportunities in your own sector have been hard hit by the pandemic you may feel that your only option is to pivot. This requires an extra level of finesse for professionals at your level. This is where your core competencies that you’ve identified earlier will be essential. If you have 20 years of experience as an international hotel chain executive, for example, identify what core skills you’ve developed in this industry that could be relevant in other, adjacent industries.

For example, perhaps you’re experienced in identifying new potential markets, building teams from the ground up, and ensuring company standards are upheld across global locations. These skills and experiences could be highly useful for other industries which have a global view, even if they aren’t the exact field you’ve established yourself in.

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

Article continued …

Address Soft Skills That Are Important to Remote Workforces.

Think about the onboarding process for companies that are newly remote. HR departments are struggling to bridge communication breakdowns and encourage employee engagement; managers have trouble training new hires, monitoring their progress, and connecting team members.

When you interview for a position, or do any kind of outreach, show that you can anticipate these obstacles and make the process easier for the hiring manager. Highlight your soft communication skills and give examples in your work and the way you conduct yourself.

Target the Right Employers.

For executives and upper-level employees, the job search is more than just a numbers game. Because hiring is a large investment, businesses want to find the right fit. Target employers and tailor your application to their specific needs. Companies that are still developing their product (and therefore have a lean payroll) are most likely to hire outside talent during a crisis. Also consider looking at businesses with in-demand digital services that need to increase productivity. The video game sector, for example, has seen revenue increases since the lockdown. At your level, you need to remember the key word: targeted. Focus on cultivating connections to 15-20 people at different companies, no more. You want to conduct highly-targeted, respectful, and engaging outreach that always focuses on demonstrating value to them rather than why they should want to be connected to you.

Turn the Tables by Interviewing Potential Employers.

A creative way to connect with potential employers and simultaneously strengthen your professional network is to start a small content series that interviews leaders in your industry. Your goal is always understanding their business, their needs, and focusing on them. However, be sure to present why you’re in a unique position to do so, and what you can do to help them grow.

It’s easy to find a platform for sharing professional content such as LinkedIn Pulse or Medium, and it’s not too complicated to set up a personal website with a blog. With a platform in place, start by creating a few thoughtful articles on important topics relevant to your industry. Then identify leadership at companies that present interesting employment opportunities and reach out with a request to interview them for your next article. This will act as a soft way to engage with potential employers, generate interesting conversation related to your industry, and demonstrate your expertise and thoughtfulness within your field.

Not only could this start some interesting conversations, but the process will also help you build out a strong online presence that will aid your application to other jobs.

Network Extensively Within Your Sector.

More jobs are found through networking than by responding to job postings at all times, especially for senior-level professionals. That’s especially true in times like these. Take two steps in networking. First, get in touch with your existing network. Reach out for Zoom chats or virtual coffee hours. Let your network know you are furloughed and job searching.

Second, grow your network with Zoom chats and virtual coffee hours. Consider getting in touch with professionals you’ve long admired for informational interviews, mentorship, and advice. Join new professional associations.

Throughout your networking, remember to offer support, information, and advice to your network as well as seeking it. Reciprocity is key to successful networking.

Use LinkedIn’s messaging features to strike up connections with relevant contacts. Remember, at your level this is probably not the HR professional but rather the leaders in the departments that are relevant to you. Remember though, if the other side is wary or dismissive, be respectful and take the hint. You don’t want to burn any bridges before you’ve built them, and you never know when someone may remember that you reached out to them and that they could use a connection like you.

Check Out Remote Conferences.

Many conferences have pivoted to provide an alternative remote version of the events that were canceled this year. This is one smart way to connect with people within your industry and with those who hold similar interests.

Keep a keen eye on the attendee lists and look for ways to connect with those people directly through social media or email. Some online events even have an open chat function to get things started.

Make it Easy To Learn More About You.

An online portfolio or website that highlights your accomplishments and experience is a smart way to stand out from other applicants. Most people do not take the time to do this, but it will leave a more lasting impression than a PDF resume or standard submission form. It will also give employers a better impression when they google your name (which they will do) and your own, personalized website is at the top of the results. This is also a great way to highlight the work you’ve done earlier of creating thought leadership pieces or interacting with other companies and leaders.

Final Thoughts

The market today simply isn’t like it was six months ago, and your executive job search can’t be the same either. In today’s challenging market, you need to take the extra time and effort to ensure that you’ve got a highly-focused strategy for showing potential employers how you are going to be the key to them making it through and succeeding in these times. Your efforts should always be focused on their needs not yours.

No matter what tactic you take to making a strong impression, the most important thing is to put a strong show of your best qualities and accomplishments. Give hiring managers and employers the opportunity to connect to you, your story, and your mission and you’ll stand out as a stronger candidate in your field. Not every approach will feel right for every person, but by choosing a few of these strategies and applying your own special spin on them you’ll be far from another face in the crowd. Ultimately, you want it to be crystal clear how you fit into the puzzle of their needs, that you understand what their pain points are and you have the skills and experience to overcome them. Focus on what your target employers need, and they’ll be more likely to see that you’re the missing piece.

Author: Elena Bajic Contributor Careers

 

Forbes.com | August 9, 2020

#YourCareer : How To Ask HR To Better Plan Your Future At The Company. Interesting Read!

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Growth is an important component of planning for your future at a company. Luckily, HR departments are there to help you navigate your professional development.

Since there are many different factors that will play into how you can reach your full potential, be sure to remember a few of these worthwhile conversations to have with your HR team.

Discuss opportunities for growth

A meaningful conversation you can have at work is to discuss the opportunities available for personal growth within the company. While your colleagues, managers, and upper-level management are great to talk to in terms of your potential at an organization, you can also take advantage of using your HR team as a tool as you begin to plan your future at the company.

Whether you are looking to advance within your current position, switch departments, are considering changing locations, or hoping for a raise, HR can help facilitate whatever growth you are seeking. Because there are many factors that go into HR’s decisions about promotions, having a conversation with this team can help you gain a clearer vision of what they look for in a candidate as well as their decision-making process.

On the other hand, your company’s HR team can also help you navigate areas that you feel are unfair or restricting you from reaching your goals as well. Remember that HR can act as an advocate for ensuring that your management is conducting fair assessments of work—so they can be a useful resource in your potential growth at the company.

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

Article continued …

Explore your employee benefits

A major retention effort used by companies is offering extensive employee benefits packages as an incentive to attract (and keep) top talent. As your needs will change as you continue to work throughout the years, reviewing your benefits with an HR member will ensure you are being adequately compensated and also getting the most out of what your company offers.

Similarly, working for a company that cares about you and your loved one’s long-term financial well-being will help you feel more confident in moving forward. A good example is to talk to HR about the life insurance offerings available. While many companies offer some sort of coverage, life insurance costs are dependent on many different factors—so securing a private policy might actually save you money instead of going through your employer. Additional coverage can help to cover the deficit if your company’s policy isn’t enough.

Remember that at the end of the day, you are working to bring home an income and provide for yourself and your loved ones. Your HR team can contribute to your financial planning as it relates to your benefits, and in return, this can encourage you to stay and move up within a company that values you as a person.

Address company culture

It’s no secret that when you are passionate about your job, can be a lot easier to get up and perform your daily tasks. But what about the people and the environment that surrounds you?

According to a study by Deloitte, 88% of employees believe that it is important to a business’ success to have a distinct workplace culture. If your current company is somewhere that you plan on growing with and looking for long-term stability, it can be beneficial to speak up about their workplace culture.

Company culture encompasses many different factors, and won’t look the same at every organization. Determining what issues or principles are important to you as an employee and having conversations with your HR team can foster a more positive working environment for all parties involved. Because the motivation you have to work efficiently with those around you plays a key role in determining your long term happiness, be sure to speak up about matters and policies that are significant to you. This is the main part of HR’s role, so connecting with the correct people is critical to see an actual change in your work environment.

Your HR department is a great asset to use when planning your growth within an organization. Utilizing them as a tool along with your continued efforts of being a hard-working employee creates a meaningful partnership where you can flourish in your career in the long run.

 

FSC Career Blog – August 6, 2020 

#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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Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

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