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#JobSearch : 3 Reasons Why Now Is The Time To Send Your Cold Emails. Economic Chaos & Layoffs, Why Now?

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With the economy in chaos, an uncertain future and most employers laying off or furloughing staff, why is now the time to start inquiring about new career paths, jobs or a particular company?

Below are reasons why you should start sending cold emails today:

Everyone Has More Time

With the indefinite suspension of work commutes, large social gatherings, concerts, theater, etc. people simply have more time to respond to cold emails and have informational zoom meetings. If someone does make time for an informational interview about their career path, their company, how the economic landscape is impacting the business and their employer, etc. don’t let that opportunity go to waste.

Informational interviews are not necessarily meant to create an instantaneous job opportunity (though if it does, more power to you) as much as it is meant to help develop relationships and gather information. It should be one of the first steps to building a relationship with that person instead of viewing it as a one-time transaction. Planting these seeds now and maintaining these relationships will help you (a 2016 study from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Yale found 70% of jobs are found through networking) when companies begin to hire again.

Employers Are Restructuring

Most companies (with some exceptions) are experiencing layoffs, but as the economy begins to cautiously reopen, they will begin rehiring and restructuring as they adjust to this new economy and understand what their needs will be going forward. Building relationships now and being front of mind will set you up to be in the best position when hiring resumes.

 

Forbes.com | July 1, 2020 | Author: Frances Bridges

#Resume : What to Tweak on Your Executive Resume When Applying for Multiple Jobs.

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We’ve all been a part of a job search before where you put so much effort into writing an effective resume that you want to send it out to as many companies as possible. This is actually one of the worst things you can do, since the resume is most likely generic in nature. Hiring managers can easily identify a generic resume and will toss it out as soon as it’s identified. For the best results, the top resume writing services suggest tailoring each resume you send out to the actual company you’re sending it to.

This may seem like a huge time investment, but when you know exactly what to change, it’s not as daunting of a task as you think. Here are some of the main things to consider changing when you apply to multiple jobs. 

1- Locate Appropriate Keywords

The same types of jobs will have different job descriptions. In a world where every resume has to pass through ATS to get into the hands of a human, you have to use the right keywords for each job posting. Read through the entire description and pick out all the soft skills, hard skills, and job-specific skills you can find. Then look at your resume and incorporate as many of them as possible without making it sound unnatural.

 

2- Add Statistics

Take these keywords to the next level and add an eye-catching statistic whenever possible. Hiring managers like to see percentages or dollar amounts on a resume because it puts your words into perspective and makes you sound much more credible and specific. Simply saying you boosted your company’s bottom line the past three years doesn’t have the same type of impact as saying you increased the bottom line by 10% one year, 13% the next year, and 15% the following year. Your executive resume service will ask you to provide them with these statistics so they can incorporate them throughout the resume as appropriate. 

3- Tailor Your Skills to The Company’s Requirements

Do some research on the company’s website before altering your resume. You may be able to identify their areas of need and be able to point them out. Companies and hiring managers don’t necessarily care what you did at your previous jobs. They just want to know what value you will provide their company. The top resume writing services can help you with using your past experience to demonstrate how your skills will transfer to their company and create similar results.

Having a unique resume for every job you apply for is extremely valuable and well worth the time and effort. Many times you don’t have to significantly change your resume. A few tweaks and additions here and there can make a big difference.

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 | June 15, 2020

#JobSearch : 3 Major Changes To Job Interviews You Need To Prepare For. Must REad!

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If you’re in a job search or plan to be soon, you know that the stakes are high in this competitive market. A major part of the process where many job seekers routinely underprepare is the interview. In fact, I often see candidates spend more time planning their outfit than their content.

While what you wear certainly has an impact, what you share earns an offer. And just when you thought the interview couldn’t get any more stressful, the current pandemic has changed up the game in new ways, so there are a few additional things you need to be ready for if you want to stand out and secure a great next step in your career.

Although you’ll no longer need to worry about the grip of your handshake (perhaps ever again), here are three new aspects that will be important to focus on in your next job interview:

1) You’ll need to set up the environment. While video teleconferencing has become more popular over the last several years, use of this medium for job interviews has dominated in the past few months due to social distancing, which means expectations for a near flawless execution have also skyrocketed. Fumbling through the process while experiencing distractions and technical difficulties isn’t an option, so it’s up to you to master the platforms being used and practice beforehand so you appear confident in troubleshooting any unexpected challenges.

And now, instead of showing up to a building where you meet in a conference room or office, you are required to set the stage for the interview environment, which takes some additional preparation and can have a major impact on the outcome. As the host of at least one side of the interview space, you’ll need to consider lighting, connectivity, audio quality, ambient noise, background visuals and video angles just to name a few. Everything counts and will be a part of the evaluation since it’s likely you’ll be using video technology regularly to communicate in the new role, perhaps with customers, so the interview has become an audition of sorts.

Interviews are inherently anxiety-provoking and there’s a lot you won’t be able to control, so it’s in your best interest to control as much as you can regarding the environment. The ball for much of this is now in the job seeker’s court.

 

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

Article continued …

 

2) You’ll be asked how you’re handling the pandemic (and you should ask them as well). On a positive note, employers in the near future will be more forgiving of resume gaps and layoffs due to the major disruption in the job market over the last several months. However, a question that is more frequently being asked of candidates is, “How have you handled work during Covid-19?” They’re not wondering about your hand-washing routine or collection of animal-themed masks. More often than not, they are assessing your leadership, creativity and adaptability during a crisis.

As you prepare, consider your audience’s greatest pain points and which skills would be of most value for them to hear about. For example, “One of our team’s priorities was to ensure that our customers remained informed during our transition to working virtually, so I partnered with our IT team to set up a new email address that would be monitored after hours to respond to customer requests, which helped to eliminate disruption of response times.”

If you were furloughed, describe the new skills you developed, relevant online courses you completed, volunteer efforts you participated in throughout your community or how you supported three school-age children participating in online education. While there isn’t a right or wrong response necessarily, there are certainly ways you can be strategic in your answer to demonstrate your positive attributes versus wasting an opportunity to showcase relevant competencies by not thinking through your reply beforehand.

Learning about company culture just got harder. Part of the interview process is assessing the company and job fit for yourself while the hiring team is assessing your skills and fit at the same. A big piece of that puzzle is often revealed during an in-person interview when you have the chance to observe the building decor, employee interactions, workspace set-up and overall office vibe. With in-person interviews on hold or in offices that have been significantly restructured to comply with social distancing guidelines, much of this information is now muddled or lost.

However, culture is an important part of your future happiness and career success in a new role, so it’s worth exploring other strategies to understand what your new employer will expect. Ask to speak with people you’ll be working with including peers, colleagues on collaborating teams and direct reports. Use online tools like Glassdoor, Twitter and even LinkedIn to view comments or postings about the organization.

Tap into your network to get honest feedback about their experience working in the company. Get creative with your questions by inquiring: “Who was the last person on the team to get an award and what was it for?”, “Can you give an example of a recent team conflict and how it was handled?”, “What are the top traits of the most successful team members?” These types of questions demonstrate your interest in finding a mutual fit and are harder for others to answer with a canned response.

And just for good measure, here are some important aspects of a successful job interview strategy that haven’t changed:

1) Don’t count on a good interviewer. It’s 100% your responsibility to leave on the table the messages that convey your value proposition. This includes what skills and abilities you’re bringing to the role that will help to solve the department’s greatest problems and lead to increased success. To do this effectively, you must research the company, market, key players, and competition, and then create the messages you want to share during the interview to show how you’re the candidate of choice, regardless of what questions you’re asked. Unfortunately, there are many untrained interviewers in the world, and it’s little consolation after being passed over to complain that you weren’t asked the questions you’d been expecting. Here’s how to nail it.

2) Practice – out loud. I would be willing to bet that for many job seekers, the only time they’ve practiced out loud was during an actual interview. This is not where you want to discover your mistakes, and for most of us, that perfectly curated message in our minds loses something when it comes out of our mouths. As someone who has worked in corporate recruiting interviewing eight plus candidates every day, it’s very obvious who has taken the time to prepare. Do yourself a huge favor and practice with a friend if possible, a video tool or at the very least a mirror. You’ll be happy you did.

3) Negotiate. While not a part of the interview per se, negotiating the offer is the last step before accepting the role and perhaps the one and only time you have leverage in the hiring process as a candidate. Don’t waste it. In the current economy, you may feel lucky to just get the offer, but don’t forget that you’re providing a valuable service that helps the company’s bottom line, and it’s worth ensuring you’re being paid market value.

And although market value may be shifting, there are many aspects of compensation outside of base salary that you can negotiate such as equipment to work more effectively from home, additional vacation days or even a later start date. It’s important to be sensitive to that fact that if a company just experienced a massive layoff and there is a lot of competition for your position that you may not get everything you want. However, most hiring managers are open to making reasonable adjustments where they can.

Happy hunting!

 

Author: Dawn GrahamContributor  Careers I write actionable insider tips for job seekers and career switchers.
Forbes.com | June 10, 2020

#JobSearch : Flexibility: The Must have Trait for the 2020 Job Search. A Must REad!

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Whether you started the year in an active job search or were recently laid off due to the COVID 19 crisis, the path to your next role will be different.  The major challenge for those impacted is how to move forward in a job market filled with uncertainty.

The clear message is that you must embrace flexibility. Things are changing on a daily basis and you will have to bend and realize you may experience unanticipated setbacks.  Unemployment was at an all-time low at the beginning of the year, and you are now faced with a flooded job market and limited openings.

The new normal includes:

  • Recruiters actively working on searches find out the job is placed on hold just before they make an offer.
  • The manager or team you interviewed with may be impacted by a layoff personally, and you have to start the process over from the beginning.
  • Jobs posted on social media may not be active or reflective of the current market.
  • Your network is focused on their own career challenges or finding new business.
  • Opportunities to connect in person are limited.
  • Offers may be rescinded.
  • Many companies have salary freezes and compensation discussions will be different.

So how do you move forward? It’s understandable to take a day or two to mourn the loss of your position. However, you have to take directional steps to manage your personal needs and find your next role.   A few quick action steps to get you started:

Step 1: Take care of the basics

– Many employers are offering outplacement, EAP services and extended health coverage options.  If these options are available, use them. Your mental and physical health are critical.

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

Article continued …

Step 2: Understand your current financial situation

– Severance and unemployment are options for many impacted employees.  You will need to educate yourself on what’s available from your company and how the benefits may intertwine with state and federal unemployment.

Step 3: Evaluate where you are and be open to new opportunities

– Your timeline and next steps will depend on your personal situation, and you will have to take individual steps to move forward.  If severance and unemployment are options, you can take more time to find the exact right opportunity.  If you must have a paycheck immediately, you will need to embrace flexibility right away.  What does that mean?  You can look for short term assignments or temporary work.

You can take a role outside your field while you look for the right next step. Examples include: Embracing your Do-It-Yourself (DIY) home improvement hobby and apply at Home Depot; Apply for virtual assignments to teach English to children in Asia; or help a neighbor with yard work or childcare.  You may want to explore not traditional methods of professional networking such as the NextDoor app or a neighborhood Facebook groups.  Many furloughed Gen Z displaced workers have already taken this path during the national shutdown.

Step 4: Start networking

– There is an amazing trend occurring on LinkedIn right now.  If you do not know what LinkedIn is, you should research the social networking platform immediately.  People are actively posting that they have been impacted by COVID and letting their network know they are open to new opportunities. The stigma of announcing publicly to your network that you are looking for a new role is gone, or at least on pause.  In addition, others are openly offering assistance or recommendations to their networks.

Step 5: Learn about and practice virtual networking and interviewing skills

–  You should be familiar and comfortable with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and other platforms.   There are many online tutorials on the platforms and tips on how to interview virtually.  Think about buying a ring light for your next online interview.

Step 6: Embrace flexibility

– This may be hard for some, but will be essential in the next several months.  There may be an unexpected spike of COVID in the Fall and business models will continue to change.  Employers will understand why you have a professional gap, short term assignments or more than one role within a year.  You could be impacted by more than one layoff this year. The important thing is to be open to adjusting to a new normal and understand if there is a stall in the interviewing process, a job is placed on hold or if you need to think outside the box for your next role.

The good news is that things will get better, and you have an opportunity to evaluate what you want in your career.  You are not alone in the job search challenge, and your network will help you.  If you do not have one, start one.  You may learn about a role that is not right for you but a great opportunity for a former colleague.  There will be ebbs and flows in your search.  Most likely, you will hit a stall, and this is the new normal. Embracing flexibility gives you options and allows you to take actionable steps.   

 

FSC Career Blog Author:  Jennifer O’Keefe is a Human Capital Consultant and Global Senior Human Resources Executive with deep experience in human resources, talent management, and business partnership.   Her previous roles include serving as the Chief People Officer of a publicly traded organization.  In addition, she provides content and publication review for human capital communications.

 

FSC Career Blog | June 9, 2020

 

#JobSearch : Rebounding After A Job Loss. The Less We Attach to a Title or Company, the More Agile we Can Be in Our Careers.

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People have been furloughed or let go at alarming rates these past few months. Never before has the job market experienced this type of shift. Most people out of work are in this situation through no fault of their own and no fault of their company’s. Covid-19 through an economical curve ball on everyone.

Many are left feeling a sense of deep loss and sometimes shame. But many of the most famous business successes we know are experienced job losses. Steve Jobs was famously fired from Apple, the company he co-founded, only to come back later to reinvent it. Oprah Winfrey was told she was unfit for television news. Ford didn’t want to hear Lee Iacocca’s ideas so he took them to Chrysler. The list of successful people who have turned a closed door into a whole new path is endless. The question is, how do you make sure you create a rebound that brings you to a new level of career success.

Embrace this as another chapter in your career. Those that are reeling from losing their jobs and finding themselves struggling to move forward have a hard time embracing that they are starting a new chapter. We all struggle with and resist change that we didn’t ask for. But the sooner we embrace the reality of what has occurred, the sooner we can process the emotional upheaval it has caused.

Be kind to yourself. Val Wright, author of, “Rapid Growth, Done Right: Lead, Influence and Innovate for Success,” says, “Getting fired or pushed out is nothing to be ashamed of. Do not disappear from view, do not retreat, it is precisely the time you want to wake up your network and discover the possibilities ahead of you.” Traditionally, we’ve been taught to view a job loss that we didn’t choose as a sign that we’ve done something wrong. But chances are you were great at your job. Most people out of work at the moment are not in this situation through fault of their own. Sitting in shame will only inhibit your capacity to get back out there and find the next opportunity.

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

Article continued …

Write the story from the perspective of a business owner not an employee. An employee is someone who lost their job. A business owner is someone who needs to expand their client list. Their primary client is currently not in need of their services, so they need to expand and diversify their client list. This keeps you in the driver’s seat of your approach. It makes the job market the terrain you’re navigating vs. the force that’s dictating whether you are employed.

Increase your trilingual power. Most of us have a preference for the ‘language’ we speak when we work. In her book, Val lays out how there is an ‘innovation trifecta’ when it comes to being successful in any job. Some speak to the creative aspects of work. This is common in departments like marketing or product development. Others speak fluent technical. Engineering and IT are common departments where this language is the norm. Finally, others speak the language of business and financial impact. This tends to be sales or accounting. However, to really set you up for success, you want to learn to package what you do in all three languages. Focusing less on the language you’re comfortable with and highlighting how your approach and services support all three aspects of a company can help you get the job and keep the job.

Learn to spot the shifts of employment security. The reality is, many of us couldn’t have seen this one coming. But losing a job can have some predictable phases if we know what to look for. Val shares the five phases that can be used to spot employment challenges.

  • Phase 1 – Being obliviously satisfied. “This is common for many high performing individuals. They are so fully engaged with the work that they are actually dehydrating their network,” explains Val. This is why having a business owner’s mindset helps you stay in tune with your network. A business owner is always growing their ‘market reach’ vs. having all their eggs in one basket. Val recommends asking yourself, “Who in my network could and would hire me?”
  • Phase 2 – Doubts start to form. This is when we start to sense that something has begun to shift. This could be something as tough as falling out of favor with key individuals or even your function not being as much of a priority as it once was.
  • Phase 3 – An explosive incident occurs. Something happens that signifies your work or role is in jeopardy. This could show up as a budget cut, shift in leadership, new executive hires or a conflict that severely damages trust and reputation.
  • Phase 4 – You are exited. Whether it’s a furlough, layoff or firing, you’re told the job you had is no longer available. The question is, were there opportunities to turn the tide during phases one through three. By the time we get to phase four, there’s very little chance of reversing decisions.
  • Phase 5 – You are dealing with the aftermath. This can be the toughest if you didn’t see anything coming. However, if you actively spotted and worked through the above phases, you will have been doing the care and feeding of your network along the way. Ideally, you find yourself understanding and aligning with the decisions that were made that brought you to this point. Regardless, you spend little to no time in shock and are ready to make your next move.

“The less we attach to a title or company, the more agile we can be in our careers,” emphasizes Val. This mindset invites you to evaluate the worth of the work you provide vs. seeing any of those decisions as a marker of your worth as an individual. When you get clear about that, it becomes much easier to think strategically and take proactive action on your behalf.

Author:  H.V. MacArthurContributor Careers I write about navigating the unspoken rules in today’s workplace.

 

Forbes.com | June 8, 2020

#JobSearch : How to Show Your Soft Skills During an Interview. What can Distinguish you More than Anything are the Soft Skills you Possess.

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Many professionals get caught up in trying to make their hard skills and expertise sound good, and forget to highlight the soft skills they have. When you’re talking about high-level executive positions, every candidate will have similar hard skills on their resumes and cover letters. What can distinguish you more than anything are the soft skills you possess, since those are unique to every individual.

Here are some tips for demonstrating these soft skills in an interview, even when you aren’t specifically asked about them. 

Important Soft Skills That Translate To Any Job

According to a recent Forbes article, the most sought after soft skills as a result of the global pandemic include:

  • Communication
  • Adaptability
  • Intrapreneurship
  • Leadership
  • Teamwork
  • Organization
  • Creativity

Of course, there are plenty other skills you could have, but these are some of the main ones that translate to any given job. Some of these skills may not fit naturally into your resume, but you can include them in your LinkedIn profile and you definitely need to mention them in your interview. 

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

Article continued …

Demonstrate How Your Soft Skills Have Worked Previously

You’re going to be asked mostly about your knowledge and expertise in an interview. But if you really think about it, you likely used a mix of your soft skills in order to earn the knowledge you have today. Consider a particular aspect of a previous job you were an expert at. You may have become an expert at it because of repetition, but you also likely had to use critical thinking, innovative thinking, problem solving and more to achieve the result. Demonstrating these soft skills allows an interviewer to really see how your mind works, which is extremely beneficial when the outcome of the project you’re describing was successful. 

Relate Soft Skills to the Job Description

Every good executive resume service will tell you to tie your soft skills in with the job description when writing a resume. It’s also important to remember the aspects of the job description when talking about your soft skills in the interview as well. You can talk specifically about a project at your previous job, but be clear about how your skills can translate to the job you’re interviewing for. Don’t make the interviewer try to piece this together themselves, since they could miss out on a key point you’re trying to make.

Your job at the interview is show why you are the best candidate for the position. Don’t make the hiring manager connect the dots between your achievements and your skills. Talk about the openly and clearly, showing yourself as the ideal fit.

 

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 |  June 4, 2020

#JobSearch : The Key To Starting A New Career In The Age Of The Coronovarius. Key Steps to Help you Move Forward.

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The dislocation to our jobs and overall well-being wrought by the coronavirus pandemic has been unprecedented in our lifetime. The issue has been compounded by a media landscape that has often confused and distressed as much as it has helped. Research from the University of California, Irvine, highlights the mental distress mass consumption of media during the pandemic has caused. The deluge of information, some of which will be wholly misleading, can cause paralysis at a time when we need to be acting.

Being overwhelmed can lead even the most motivated people to give up prematurely or approach things in a haphazard way. 

Facing the uncertainty surrounding our future, now is not the time to get bogged down in confusion. Columbia Law School professor Alexandra Carter believes that the perfect way to break free of this funk is to take the first step, however small it may be, towards our new future. In her latest book Ask for More, she outlines how you can make progress in whatever your goals are, whether finding a new job, earning a pay raise, or changing your career.

She outlines a number of crucial steps to help you move forward:

1. Review your problem or goal – The first step is to identify the key problem you face. With the coronavirus, this could be the loss of your job, a reduction in hours, maybe even a crisis for your industry.

Similarly, you may have identified a key goal you want to achieve for your career going forward. This may be a new job in your existing field, or a pivot towards a new career entirely. Try if you can to look back through your life to identify any moments in your past that led you to where you are today.

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

Article continued …

2. What are your needs? – Carter highlights that these can be tangible, i.e. what you can count, see, or touch, or intangibles, such as your values. Collectively, they are what is important to you, and any steps you take from here on should reflect these values.

For intangibles, it is important to try and understand what that might look like.  For instance, if you strive for fairness, this may be reflected in higher pay for some, whereas it is more reputational for others. Once you have identified your needs, Carter advocates exploring the various actions you could take to fully and completely meet those needs. “Give yourself permission to consider a world in which all of your needs could be met, and then make a list of concrete first steps to get there.”

3. Explore your feelings – Feelings can often appear inconsequential in major decisions and are relegated to secondary status behind our reason and logic. Carter believes this is a significant mistake, and by recognizing our feelings, we can craft better solutions. Now, more than ever, you are likely to be having a whole range of emotions, and it is important not to ignore them if you are to craft the future you want.

4. Consider past successes – Whenever you experience a setback in your life, it can focus your attention excessively on the negative aspects associated with it. This can cause you to doubt yourself and your ability to enjoy success in life again. Getting your career, and your life, back on track is not going to be easy, and you need to have both confidence and momentum for your efforts to succeed.

Carter advocates looking back into your past to recall examples of times you have succeeded. What did you envision when you did so? What were your habits, actions, and mental state? Try and find not only the confidence from your past success but uncover some concrete actions you can employ to help you move forward. If you do not have similar prior successes to call upon, look instead for past successes in unrelated fields. This could be from your academic past or even your personal life.

As Carter explains, the key is not so much what your first step is, but that you make one. “Focusing on the first step can help us build momentum,” she says.  “When steering ourselves toward a big and exciting goal, trying to design the entire solution from the outset can feel more overwhelming than productive.

Being overwhelmed can lead even the most motivated people to give up prematurely or approach things in a haphazard way.  Sometimes, we need that one step to help us build a little momentum.” The present time is nothing if not uncertain, but each day presents a new opportunity, and now is the time to take that first step towards a better future.

 

Forbes.com | June 3, 2020 |  Pavel Krapivin Contributor Careers I write about the intersection of work and happiness.

 

 

#ResumeWriting : Executive Resume Targeting is More Important Than You Think . Targeting your Resume is Critical Today, and Here’s Why it’s So Important.

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What’s the first thing you think about when you start preparing or updating your resume? A common misconception today is thinking you have to craft your resume to be more general since you don’t know exactly what an employer wants to see.

The reality is hiring managers are looking specifically for people who understand their needs and have the skills and knowledge to solve their problems. The key to getting recognized is writing an effective resume geared toward acknowledging those specific needs and demonstrating why you have the skills they are looking for.

Targeting your resume is critical today, and here’s why it’s so important.

Targeting Doesn’t Limit Your Job Search

Your first thought when the best executive resume writers tell you to target your resume may be that you’re limiting your job search options. There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all resume. Employers need to see specifically how you can help their current and future situation, so only including relevant information in your resume is critical. When writing an effective resume, your time is much better spent researching a potential employer and targeting the resume accordingly rather than trying to create a general resume to reach a wider audience.

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

Article continued … 

What to Do Before Writing Your Resume

The top resume writing services always suggest thinking hard about exactly what you want to do at your next job. Once you have your goals and desires set, you can search for potential employers that can help you achieve those goals. Take a look at what attributes and skills the company needs and identify where you can help them out the most. When writing your resume, be sure to demonstrate your brand clearly so the hiring manager will know exactly who you are, what you stand for and how you can help the company achieve its goals. 

Make Your Resume Stand Out

Hiring managers want to see you’ve done your research on them before sending in a resume. The best executive resume writers can help you with relevant keywords and phrases employers want to see. When you value the idea of working for an employer, the hiring manager will be able to see it and you’ll have a better chance of getting called in for an interview.

It can be difficult to wrap your mind around targeting a resume. While resume targeting has always been important, employers today take it much more seriously in their efforts to narrow down candidates to find the right fit. Take the time to make your resume a stand out by writing a targeted resume to show them you are the candidate of choice.

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 |  May 28, 2020

#JobSearch : 7 Things You Shouldn’t Say in the Interview. There is an Unspoken set of Rules that Goes On in the Interview.

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And you are expected to know them.  These rules come from the recruiter or hiring manager. They have things they want to hear and things they don’t want to hear. How do you know what they are and how do you prepare for them?

Candidates practice their interviewing skills vigorously. They read up on what to say and how to answer. Dress appropriately. Smile. Follow body language. Get in front of a mirror and practice. Be on time, but not too early.

They go over their lists of strengths and weaknesses, their accomplishments, their contributions to the last job, and what they offer this new company.

But what about the things they should NOT say? Interviewers are weighing what you DON’T say just as much as what you DO say.

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

Article continued …

Here are 7 key things you shouldn’t say in the interview.

  1. Salary. “How much does this pay?” is one of the worst ways to start a conversation. Don’t talk about it right away. The longer you wait, the more leverage you have when negotiations start. They know you are anxious for clarity, but they are also interested in what their ROI will be before they make an offer. Wait it out.
  2. Company. Come prepared. Know what the company does! Know their mission, product, or service. What do they do? Who do they sell to? Who is their biggest competitor? What were their quarterly and year-end earnings last year? Act as though you are the company ambassador. The more you know about it, the more impressed they will be. Telling the interviewer you are “sort of familiar” with their company will put you in the NO pile.
  3. Your old company. Do not bash your last company, manager, co-workers, or the way they did things. It might have ended badly, but the new company doesn’t need to hear about it. It makes you look bad and will let them know that you will bash them as well. It also makes you look difficult or whiny. Honestly, when I talk to a client and all they do is bash their old company, it does send up some red flags. I also assume that the client will be difficult to work with (past experience tells me they will). Work out your feelings before going to an interview and leave it behind.
  4. I need this job. Don’t let your desperation show. They know you want the job. They know you (most likely) need the money. Keep your focus on what the company needs from you and how you are the right fit for the role. You want to lead with your strengths and experience. They don’t want just anyone for the job. They want the RIGHT person.
  5. I want your job. When they ask you “where do you see yourself in 5 years” don’t tell them you want their job. You might think it sounds ambitious but it could come off as arrogant or that you plan on leaving soon. Plus, you may be talking to a sensitive or worried manager who doesn’t know how stable their job is. Telling them you want their job may automatically make them defensive or turned off. Instead, let them know that you hope to gain experience and knowledge from the role with a promotion following.
  6. This is a stepping stone. If you know this next role is only to benefit your career through additional experience so you can move on to the role after that, don’t tell the interviewer that. They don’t need to know that you only view their company as temporary. They want to hire someone committed to the company and the role.
  7. Questions. Have questions ready! Expectations? Culture? What is a typical day like? How do you measure success in this position? What type of advancement is there? What types of challenges should I expect? Who will I be working with? You’ve read my resume and spoken with me; do you think I am a good fit for the role? Even ask them about their role! Going to an interview without follow up questions will make you look unprepared.

Interview don’ts are just as important as interview dos.  Good luck!

 

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 |  May 26, 2020

#YourCareer : Career Path isn’t Headed Exactly How you Planned It? Tips to Help you Out.

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We all have points throughout our career where we stall out, hit a major bump, or things become stale. This happens due to becoming too comfortable in your current position, an economic or global crisis, or simply not knowing what direction you want to go. Using your

LinkedIn profile for networking purposes can help you find some direction and potentially lead to other opportunities. Though it is natural to stall out in your career, it’s also possible, and necessary, to move forward when you’re ready.

If you know you’re ready to advance your executive career, but can’t seem to find a spark to get you going, we’ve got some tips to help you out. 

Let Career Detours Be Inspirational

If your career path isn’t headed exactly how you planned it to, don’t get discouraged. Everyone will have detours in their career. Instead of looking at those detours negatively, view them as inspirational and work harder to get back on track. Revisit your executive resume biography as a reminder of where you are now and where you want to be in the future. When your path changes, look for ways to grow from it and make any adjustments you deem necessary.

 

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

Article continued …

Always Look for Ways to Grow

One of the biggest sparks executives experience in their career is learning a new skill. Being able to add a new skill to your executive resume biography is motivating, so consider taking an advanced course or work on projects of your own in your free time. Now is the perfect time to take an online class or update that certification. The top resume writing services encourage people to step out of their comfort zone occasionally because it will lead to growth no matter what. Learning experiences are valuable for career growth, but you won’t experience any of them if you don’t take the first step forward.

 

Network with Like-Minded Experts

Networking can lead to many different opportunities and can be a big spark for your career. Simply talking with like-minded experts can give you new ideas on how to approach your career or certain projects to help you move forward. Be sure to have your LinkedIn profile updated, though, since you’ll likely want to reconnect with people you’ve met through the platform.

There are many reasons careers get stuck. If yours is, take the time to figure out why it’s stalled and where you want it to be in the future. Then set a plan of action to get there.

 

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 |  May 22, 2020