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#BestofFSCBlog : 5 Ways To Update/Change Your LinkedIn Profile For A Career Change. Holiday Season is Prime Time for Networking! MUst REad!

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If you hope the new year brings a new career, you’ll want to promote your background in a way that translates to your new target field. Your LinkedIn profile is a powerful tool to reposition yourself for a new industry, role or both. LinkedIn is public and searchable, so not only prospective employers and recruiters might view it, but also potential connections who can offer information, leads or other support.

LinkedIn is a social network, and we’re still in holiday season – prime time for networking! Therefore, updating these five aspects of your LinkedIn profile so that it supports your career change should be a priority:

1 – Rewrite the Headline for your new target industry and/or role

If you don’t customize the phrase that appears right below your name, it can default to your current title and company. That’s sufficient if you want to continue working in the same industry and role. However, if you aspire to change careers, you don’t want your old industry and/or role to be the first thing potential connections and employers see. (Your headline may be the only thing employers, recruiters and other potential connections see if you appear in search results, and people decide not to click since your headline isn’t relevant.)

For example, let’s say you are currently a marketing manager at a bank, but you want to do marketing for a media company. You could change your headline to include your marketing expertise overall – e.g., Marketing Manager | Partnerships | Direct Mail | E-commerce. This takes the focus away from banking, which isn’t relevant, and highlights your marketing expertise, which still fits.

 

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

Article continued …

 

2 – Highlight new activities in the About section

Similarly, when you summarize your background in the About section, open with the most relevant and substantive qualifications for your new field, even if your experience in previous industries or roles is lengthier. You want to catch the reader’s attention early, since they may not read everything, or even if they do, once they see you in the old industry or role, they won’t see you as a potential fit for something new.

For example, you might have 20 years of experience at the bank, but you could still open with your enthusiasm for the latest media trends. If you are working at all in your new industry (even if it’s a side consulting project or volunteer work), highlight that first. If you have certifications or are an active member of a relevant professional association, that can also legitimize your interest in the new field. If instead you open with a laundry list of your old experience, expertise and skills, by the time they get to the new stuff, they will see you as a newbie and therefore a hiring risk.

3 – Showcase your new expertise in your Activity

In addition to the About section, your Activity – e.g., posts you write, comments on other posts, videos or presentations you attach – can be tailored to the new career and showcase your expertise. Being active in your new field is also a good way to make and expand your network in that field. An insider may take note of your insights and make introductions for you to others.

For example, you could summarize insights from books or courses you are taking to learn about your new field. If you conduct informational interviews (and you should), you could highlight key takeaways from these meetings. You don’t need to produce content from scratch – you could follow executives in your target function or dream companies and comment on what they post.

4 – Include substantive consulting, part-time or volunteer work in Experience

The work experience you include in the Experience section doesn’t need to be paid or your primary job, as long as it’s substantive. Yes, you could also put volunteer work in the Volunteer section, but then it might be overlooked. Your goal is to catch the reader’s attention early before they have formed an opinion about you as being too deeply embedded in your old career.

This also includes how you organize the description about your current job — if some aspects of your job are more relevant to your new career than others, highlight these first. For example, a client of mine made a career change from financial services to education. It seems like a big pivot given she had decades in her original industry. However, in her last job, even though the bulk of it was financial, she also had some mentoring and training activities which she listed first.

5 – Speak to your new audience with relevant keywords

Whether it’s your headline, summary, activity, experience or other section, review what you include and how you describe it from the perspective of your new target field. Avoid jargon that only applies to niche areas. Generalize your skills so that multiple industries can see your value.

For example, I had a client in the transportation industry switch out references to passengers for customers. Another client in healthcare switched out patients for clients. A seemingly small change does make your profile more welcoming.

Put your LinkedIn URL in your email signature so your entire network has your updated information

Of course having an updated, career change-friendly profile is meaningless if no one sees it. Putting your LinkedIn URL into your email signature (your personal one, not your current work!) is an inobtrusive way of attaching your background to every correspondence. While it’s presumptuous to send people a resume (and people who don’t know you well may not open an email with an attachment), posting a URL gives access to the same information but more subtly.

As a career changer, most of your network will likely be in your old career rather than your new target, so your existing connections may not know all your adventures in your new career. Pointing them to your profile in each and everh email is an ongoing reminder of what you do and how much you’re working towards something new.

 

Forbes.com – December 30, 2020 – Caroline Ceniza-Levine

#JobSearch : How To Land A New Job In Tough Times. What Is the Ideal Strategy to Land a New Job? A MUst Read!

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Yesterday a Baby Boomer called me with a question that many of you might be tossing around. Sandy asked, “I really dislike my current boss, and I want to leave this job, but should I just be grateful I have a job and not try for a new one? The pandemic has caused so much bad news about company closings, reduced hiring, and my brother just lost his job. It has got me down, so should I stop complaining, suck it up, and hang on for another year or two until times are better?”

Sandy’s fear is understandable. She thinks that few employers are hiring, which is not valid. I never advocate for anyone to remain in a miserable work situation. Understanding she needs a paycheck, I suggested that she test the hiring waters to see if her skills are in demand. I reassured her that I’ve just had four clients get hired for great paying jobs. Two were Baby Boomer professionals making over six-figures. Another was a 2020 grad getting an excellent opportunity to launch his career in a field he wanted. Lastly, the mid-level client who got the remote job he wanted.

There are new opportunities available. So, don’t assume all the bad news means you can’t land a better job – YOU CAN! It will take more time than before. You must use some job search savvy and know what is effective and what doesn’t work. You need to take the calculated risk and see what develops. I think you’ll be surprised by the positive results if you implement the right job-hunting strategies.

 

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

Article continued …

What is the ideal strategy to land a new job? The answer is being referred to the company and the hiring manager by an employee or colleague they know.  Jobvite, a talent acquisition system reported that employee referrals only make up about 7% of potential candidates, but the number of those referred candidates hired is 44%. 44%! That makes this well worth the effort to try and locate a connection to someone inside the company. LinkedIn is the ideal place to search for contacts and obtain a referral.

In today’s challenging economy, people who learn and use networking techniques will be those that succeed. But for some people, the task of networking is hard to do. Ken was a Program Manager for a tech company who had lost his job because of the Covid pandemic. He became a client and told me he had no network to speak of. Ken had no LinkedIn profile and did not belong to professional or civic organizations. An introvert, Ken disliked the idea of networking, but he did email a few colleagues and his old boss, but no one had any job openings, so he stopped. We started our career counseling sessions by educating Ken on what today’s job search involved.

First, I wrote him a powerful resume, and then we developed a complete LinkedIn Profile. I gave him the mission to make connections with a target of obtaining at least 300. Next, we worked on having him learn some effective networking strategies. He was surprised by the fact that according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Yale University report, 70% of all jobs are found through networking. Learning more effective techniques, he began again. The changes he made worked. Recruiters contacted him, and an old colleague he found on LinkedIn passed on his resume for a great job opportunity at her company. The employer called, and after several interviews, he was selected and hired for a terrific new job.

Today’s job market requires you to approach the job hunt differently than before. Here are a few tips to get started.

Increase your contacts. LinkedIn has become the place to collect contacts. An excellent way to farm for connections is to think about all the people you have worked with. Note former bosses, coworkers, colleagues, vendors, anyone you interacted with at your last job, and other positions you have held.  Many people add their company’s Executive leadership team too. Next, invite your friends, neighbors, family, and college alum friends. Then branch into your professional associations and connect with those folks, especially the group’s leadership team, and board members. When it comes to networking, the more connections you have, the better.

Do not waste a contact. Do not approach people until you are ready. A common mistake is to frantically call EVERYONE you’ve ever met and say, “I’m looking for a job – do you know of one?” Huge error! You must clearly articulate the specific job title, company, and kind of company you want to work for. Instead, you can reach out to connections individually. Calls are great, emails work, and if you don’t have those, use LinkedIn to send them a message. Tell the contact you are job hunting. Be specific on the job title you seek. Ask them what is happening in their company. Don’t expect them to know of a job, but some will and usually share that information as they want to help you. Another thing to ask is if a job comes up at their company, would they pass on your resume. Most times, the answer is yes.

Have Your Resume Ready. The goal of your resume is to secure interviews. Is your resume updated and downright the best it can be? Will it get through the employer’s Applicant Tracking System? Is it full of accomplishments and the results you achieved on the job? Will it stand out in a crowd? Find out before you network. A useful Forbes article to read to ensure your resume is topnotch and will impress employers is: Employers Ignoring Your Resume? 5 Mistakes To Avoid.

Dig deep so you can use a Referral. When you hear of an opening or find the opportunity online, go to LinkedIn and search “the employer’s name” and use the “people” drop-down tab. This will bring up anyone in your online network who works there. You can also see 2nd connections and who you know that may know someone at that company. Reach out to the person and tell them about the opening you plan to apply for, and would they be willing to pass on your resume to HR or the recruiter. Some companies pay their employees for any referred person they hire, so this might help your contact too. Forward on your resume. Just to cover all bases, do apply online for the job opening also. You want to be found in the employer’s system if the connection doesn’t come through. (Most do, in my experience).

Know What to Say. Be able to offer a concise intro about your skills and experience when talking to connections, recruiters, and eventually hiring managers. A technique I call the 60 Second Sell (outlined in this Forbes article Best Way To Open An Interview To Secure A Job Offer) gives you the easy formula to create your persuasive elevator speech and verbal business card. You want to quickly outline experience, your top strengths, and some key outcomes you’ve achieved on the job as you only have about one minute to impress them.

It’s a whole new job market, so you’ll move ahead of the competition if you use these strategies.

 

Forbes.com | December 1, 2020 | Robin Ryan

#JobSearch : How to Get a Job. Landing the Job you Want, Specially in a Competitive Field, goes Beyond Having the Right Skills and Experience.

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Landing the job you want, especially in a competitive field, goes beyond having the right skills and experience. How you communicate, how organized and prompt you are, and how you present yourself will determine whether you are selected over other candidates. Arming yourself with knowledge about the company and role will demonstrate that you have done your research. Preparing for a range of questions shows you can think on your feet.

“Network with purpose and have a plan, an end goal and time frame,” says Marjorie Miller, a partner at executive search firm Mitchel Lake Group. “Something that helps you keep on track and keeps you to a schedule, so your search isn’t so open-ended.”

The following steps will help prepare you to land the job you want.

1- Nail down the basics.

Your cover letter and résumé, which concisely explain your experience and skills, are the basic but essential building blocks of landing the job. Some employers use automated systems to scanrésumés to see if you are a match. Most résumés need to first get past that automated system for you to be considered in the first place. If you can’t get past that, you may never have the opportunity to show you are right for the job. Make sure your résumé is in the most simple format possible. You might need multiple versions of your résumé that are tailored for the specific jobs you are applying for. You’re going to need to write cover letters that have a personal touch for each role.

Quick tips

  • Keep it simple. Stick to the most standard formatting possible with your résumé.
  • Use keywords. The more frequently certain keywords appear in a job description, the more important they likely are. Make sure those words are included in your résumé.
  • Tailor your cover letter. Your cover letter should be specific to the company and job you are applying to.

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

Article continued …

2- Know where to look.

Once you are armed with a solid résumé, explore several different avenues to find the job you want. Online job boards are the most common path, but they are only the beginning. Don’t limit your search there. Networking with people in your industry, seeking out job placement agencies and recruiters, and joining professional organizations can improve your odds of not only finding a job, but finding the role that is best-suited to you. “Network with purpose and have a plan, an end goal and time frame,” says Marjorie Miller, a partner at executive search firm MitchelLake Group. “Something that helps you keep on track and keeps you to a schedule, so your search isn’t so open-ended.”

Key takeaways

  • Networking can be your most powerful tool. Seek out contacts in your target industry.
  • Professional organizations can open doors when you don’t yet have an inside track.
  • Agencies and recruiters can be your job advocates, helping you focus your efforts elsewhere.
3- Be open to remote work.

Many employers are allowing staff to telecommute and work from anywhere, which wasn’t always the case. This could give you the chance to work for companies that might normally have required you to uproot your life and relocate. “Since workers are no longer constrained to work for companies in their own cities and towns, they can consider every company across the globe as a potential employer,” says John H. Chuang, chief executive of Aquent, a staffing company for the marketing and creative industries. “This increases their earning power and also enables companies to compete for and retain the best talent available worldwide.”

4- Make sure your public presence is in order.

Employers are probably going to look at how you present yourself to the public, since this could reflect on them if they hire you. That means you should feel comfortable with what they may find on your social media, personal websites and search results. Think about how your posts and content may be perceived and if you would feel confident discussing it in an interview. This can work in your favor. Ideally, your social-media presence should be a way for employers to see that your interests align with the role or the values of the company. Having a personal website showcasing your work at previous jobs can be a big advantage to allow you to stand out from other candidates. LinkedIn is also a useful personal-branding platform if you keep your profile up-to-date and include a strong headline, well-written summary and keywords. It is also a place to post content relevant to your industry or career.

5- Do your research.

Read up on the company you want to work for. When you attend an interview, you should be able to communicate how you can be a valuable asset to the company. You should be able to articulate why you want to work for this employer, why this particular role is appealing to you and what makes you the right person for this position. Prepare yourself with answers to the most common interview questions. Think of ways to personalize your answer to show how your unique experiences or skills qualify you for the job. Share a story of a success you had or a challenge you overcame. Preparation helps you to come across as someone who is comfortable, confident and can think on their feet.

6- Sharpen your soft skills.

Your soft skills—such as how you communicate, your ability to work well and collaborate with others, and adaptability to change—are highly coveted by employers. The way you answer behavior-based questions can help determine how strong those skills may be.

The little things mean a lot: Showing up early to an interview; bringing extra copies of your résumé; dressing appropriately; thinking about your posture: these can help to demonstrate your soft skills, such as reliability, organization and professionalism. You want to appear confident, and being prepared goes a long way toward putting yourself in that mindset.

Get outside help: One way you could refine these things would be to get a career coach, if it is within your means. “It’s a great exercise to help you refine and define your brand,” says Ms. Miller.

7- Follow up and be gracious.

After your interview, make sure you follow up to thank each of the people you met for their time and consideration. You should mention something specific from your conversation to show you paid close attention. Explain briefly why you think you would be a good fit and tell the interviewer you look forward to continuing the conversation.

8- Make sure the culture is right for you.

The ideal job should allow your best qualities, passion and skills to shine. Don’t try to fit into a role that you will be unhappy getting up every day to do. You only get so many opportunities to make a new start, so make this one count. Get to know the employer’s culture. If you have been thoughtful about the companies and positions you are applying for, your best self will shine through. Remember that the employer isn’t just hiring you—you are also choosing who to offer your talents to and spend your time working with.

What to do next

 

WSJ.com | November 20, 2020 | Anthony DeRosa

#JobSearch : Where to Search for Today’s Jobs -Finding Your Next Opportunity. It Might Seem Counterintuitive, but the More Experienced you Are, the Longer it May Take You to Find a Job.

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Finding the perfect job takes time, patience and the right resources. It takes people around nine weeks, on average, to find a job once they start searching, according to Indeed.com. The time it takes for you may vary depending on your industry, location and level of experience. It might seem counterintuitive, but the more experienced you are, the longer it may take you to find a job, because employers may see you as overqualified.

But there are some ways you can make the search more constructive.

1. Network.
One of the most powerful things you can do when searching for jobs is actively network. It can be awkward and, for people who aren’t naturally outgoing, requires a bit of courage and initiative.
  • Start with friends and people you know. Get a feel for creating rapport with those you are already comfortable with in order to have some ice-breakers ready to go when you expand beyond your social circles.
  • Find people who have similar jobs to the one you are seeking. Let them know you would like to learn more about their jobs and see if they know of any openings in the industry. The more you make connections, the easier it will be to gather intel on what is available.
  • Force yourself out of your comfort zone. Start reaching out beyond your immediate circle once you feel like you have a good rhythm. You don’t need to contact 10 people right out of the gate. The first couple of cold calls are always the hardest.
  • Know that people genuinely enjoy your interest in them. Don’t feel like you are imposing on people by asking about their jobs. Steve Dalton, author of the “Two Hour Job Search” told us, “It’s an old maxim that ‘interested is interesting.’ They take a reciprocal interest in you because you have good taste in who you listen to speak, and that’s where jobs come from.”

 

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

Article continued …

2. Start your search with online job boards.

Looking at online job boards is an efficient way to find opportunities. Most employers use one or more of them to find candidates.

Glassdoor: Glassdoor is known as a resource for researching a potential employer. You will find ratings and reviews of different employers on a range of topics, such as compensation, company culture, how generous benefits are, and what employees think about top executives.

Indeed: Indeed’s main function is as a search engine for jobs. It also happens to be one of the most popular sites for job candidates, which makes it attractive to employers trying to cast a wide net in search of potential candidates. It has other value-add offerings, such as a salary comparison tool, allowing you to look at compensation trends among different industries. It also allows other users to review companies, providing insights into what it might be like to work for or interview at certain companies.

Ladders: The selling point of TheLadders is that it only features vetted jobs with annual compensation of $100,000 or above. It offers a well-curated index of jobs by industry and skill specialism. It also allows you to filter by the highest-paying companies in each industry.

LinkedIn: LinkedIn markets itself as a “professional social network” where, aside from job listings, you can potentially reach decision makers at the companies you wish to apply to. Candidates can get an edge by looking at the profiles and posts of those who they might be interviewing with for insights into their career paths. Since users’ profiles are always available to view and the platform is used for networking, LinkedIn allows potential employers to find you whether or not you are actively seeking a new job. This sets it apart from other job sites.

SimplyHired: This site can flag job openings to you based on your location. It also offers a resume-building tool with a number of templates and formats specific to your career. Employers aren’t charged to post jobs on SimplyHired, so the quality of the jobs may not be quite as high as on other boards.

Upwork: If you are looking for freelance gigs, there are a wealth of job opportunities on Upwork, particularly if you have technical or design skills. The platform is well designed for bidding on jobs and communicating with those commissioning the work.

ZipRecruiter: ZipRecruiter’s key features include an option to message with employers through the site and a one-click application option. The platform will also let you know when employers are looking at your resume.

Key takeaways from job boards

  • Different boards have different features, so it makes sense to use more than one to take advantage of the resources they offer.
  • Researching a potential employer can help you decide where you want to work.
  • You can streamline your search using boards that cater to certain pay levels, or based on employee and interviewee feedback.
3. Get an inside track by joining a professional organization.

Professional organizations can be a useful way to network with people in your industry and give you access to jobs that might not be widely found on the job boards we mentioned above. JobStars has a list of professional organizations you can use as a starting point for finding one relevant for your search.

4. Get someone to be your job advocate. Work with placement agencies and job recruiters.

Agencies and recruiters can maximize your search potential by actively looking for work for you. Once they have familiarized themselves with your skills and experience, they can be an additional resource pounding the pavement to help you land your dream job.

Keep in mind agencies and recruiters will receive a fee from the employer for placing you, and companies only work with a preferred list of agencies and recruiters. This can work both for and against you, depending on whether the job you are hoping to get is one they have been approved to recruit for.

You can find lists of recruiters and agencies by industry on JobStars. Other websites where you can find recruiters include SearchFirm, Online Recruiters Directory and Recruiterly. For creative jobs, a great place to look is Aquent.

 

WSJ.com | November 11, 2020 | Anthony DeRosa

#JobSearch : Insider Gives Top Resume Tips For Older (40 & Up) Job Applicants. “Yes, Ageism is Real,”

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“Yes, ageism is real,” said Ron Visconti in a recent career guidance webinar geared at applicants aged 50 and older. Visconti, the founder and executive director of Phase2Careers, a nonprofit organization assisting workers over age 40, knows a thing or two about ageism in the workplace. He has worked with small and large organizations, both public and private, on recruitment and career transition issues.

When it comes to the resume, Visconti says job seekers must understand the negative perceptions and bias directed at older workers. When applicants know the barriers they’re up against, they can craft their resumes to defuse those stereotypes and dismiss fears. 

 

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

Article continued …

Visconti offers these guidelines to increase interview opportunities and, if all goes well, a solid offer.

  • Recruiters are overworked and don’t have time to analyze your resume for possibilities. They want to see evidence that you can do the job. That’s why it is critical to ensure that your career story is a perfect match for the position.
  • Most resumes go back ten years; however, older candidates typically have valuable experience beyond that. If that experience is relevant to the position you seek, you can add the heading other relevant experience at the end of your career history. Include the name of the company and your title, but do not include the dates of employment.
  • Don’t oversell yourself. Candidates with 20 or 30 years of experience are inclined to emphasize that experience. If a vacancy requires 8 years of experience and you have many more, write that you have 8+ years of experience. Otherwise, you risk experience discrimination if recruiters and hiring managers consider you overqualified.
  • Do not submit a resume longer than two pages. If you require two pages, make sure the content is relevant to the job you seek. Use language that is current and relevant to your industry. And, if you are skilled in outdated technologies, don’t include them in your skillset.
  • Recruiters spend an estimated seven seconds per resume. Make your resume pleasing to the eye with the use of white space. Highlight skills that align directly with the role near the top of the page, emphasizing metrics.
  • COVID has made remote work the new normal. Show relevancy by including your work-from-home setup and familiarity with critical applications such as Slack and Zoom. If those applications are not familiar to you, find someone to mentor you so you can include them in your skillset.

“Your resume shouldn’t be about responsibilities,” Visconti said. “It should be about your achievements and directly relate to the job you are applying for.” 

While there may be stereotypes in the workplace that make it harder for older applicants to get noticed, following these guidelines will increase your visibility to talent scouts.

References to older technologies feed the stereotype that older applicants are not in the game. As an example, Visconti warns applicants never to use a Hotmail or AOL address as a contact.

“Get a Gmail account and don’t feed the myth!”

To join Visconti in a future free job search offering, check out his events page and register.

Forbes.com | November 17, 2020 | Sheila Callaham

#JobSearch : A New LinkedIn Study Shows Job Seekers Are Not Helping Their Own Cause: Here’s What You Need To Do To Get Noticed. A MUst REAd for ALL!

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LinkedIn recently conducted a survey of 2,000 U.S. professionals, zeroing in on the actions of professionals who have been unemployed since the start of the pandemic. LinkedIn’s research, published by Andrew Seaman, senior editor of Job Search and Careers at LinkedIn News, indicated that people “have not been actively networking while being unemployed—even though most say it’s vital for a successful job search. ”

The reason for the lack of networking may be attributed, in part, to the misperceived shame and embarrassment associated with losing a job, as the study shows that “84% believe there is a stigma associated with being unemployed.”

According to the findings, networking is viewed as an unpleasant, uncomfortable and awkward necessity of the job search process, as “less than half of survey respondents (42%) say they’ve reached out to existing connections and only 39% say they’ve asked people in their networks, such as friends and former colleagues, for introductions to other people.” When it comes time to reach out to people outside of their core communities, “only about a third (35%) have been making their own introductions to new connections.” 

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

Article continued …

As traditional methods of the job hunt have been curtailed due to the virus outbreak, such as grabbing a cup of coffee with someone, having an in-person, informal interview or attending a face-to-face networking event, gaining attention online has become paramount. It was somewhat surprising to learn that “only half of the survey respondents say they’ve even posted on social media about being unemployed or looking for a job.”

Their rationale for not branding and marketing themselves on social media is because they “don’t feel comfortable sharing publicly that they’re out of work.” Some respondents reported that they “felt too ashamed or embarrassed,” others thought “it wouldn’t be helpful.” They may also suffer from impostor syndrome, possess an inherent bias toward recruiters or have self-confidence issues.

Almost half (46%) of the people in the survey said they have “lied about being out of work,” while 51% have “avoided a social event because of the way they feel about being out of work.” Sadly, “24% said they felt embarrassed, 23% felt uneasy and 15% felt ashamed” of being out of work. The feelings of the out-of-work respondents run counter to finding that “the vast majority (96%) would hire a candidate who was laid off due to Covid-19.”

When you’re downsized, it’s natural to feel a twinge of embarrassment and some shame—even when it’s not your fault. Personal identities are intertwined with our jobs and careers. When you’re out of work, many people feel a loss of prestige and status. So, they keep the job loss to themselves. It’s completely normal to feel this way—temporarily. You may need some time to grieve and process what has happened. However, you must then pick yourself up, brush yourself off and take action.

Keep in mind that if you’re in this situation, you’re not alone. The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the job market. Over 60 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits since the start of the virus outbreak. Unemployment hit an all-time high. The real numbers are probably larger than the official government data, as people who’ve finished collecting benefits just fall off the radar of statistics. The data also neglects to include people that unwillingly retired, as they weren’t able to find meaningful employment, those who are significantly underemployed relative to their experience, pushed into the gig economy (due to no other options) or they begrudgingly took lower-end roles to get health insurance.

Recruiters, corporate talent acquisition, human resources professionals and hiring managers understand that this is an unprecedented time. They most likely know or have family members in a similar spot. However, job seekers who have shared their feelings of inadequacy—tied to temporarily being out of work—may have experienced or heard of colleagues that were treated shabbily in their job searches. In past job markets, particularly when things were hot, there were always corporate managers that looked askance at candidates that were in between positions. They’d grill the applicant, “Why did they choose you for firing and not someone else?” The clear inference was that there must have been something wrong with the person, like they didn’t do their job properly, couldn’t work well with others or there is a deep, dark secret surrounding their separation from the payroll.

No one can blame you for being in between jobs, as it is so prevalent right now. There’s no stigma attached anymore. Any rational person, when they learn of your situation, would say that they completely understand and most likely will share similar stories about a bunch of people they know who are going through the same thing.

With this in mind, there’s no longer a need to go it alone. Be open about your goal of finding a new job. Let people know that you’re in the job market and what specifically you want to do next. If no one knows that you’re on the job hunt, they won’t reach out to you with opportunities.

Think of your job search as a group effort. Enlist as many people as you could think of, including family, friends, college alumni, former co-workers, business associates, kids you grew up with, members of organizations you belong to and people you met at various functions. If they don’t have any solid leads, politely and persistently ask them to point you to someone that they know who may get you in front of the right person.

Strategically align with folks on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram that can contribute toward building a mutually benefiting network. These people should include potential hiring managers, human resources and talent acquisition professionals at the companies you’d like to work with. Find top-tier recruiters who are known experts in your field. Seek out peers at other companies within your niche. This way, the right types of relevant people will get to know you, as they see your postings and keep you in mind when jobs become available.

The best way to start branding yourself is by commenting, sharing, writing posts and articles on LinkedIn. The content should focus on your area of expertise, as you have a lot of knowledge to impart. You can start slowly by liking and addressing the postings of others. Find leaders in your field with large followings. Get involved in their conversations to amplify your own voice. Keep in mind that the questions you answer and your responses should burnish your brand. It’s fine to write about the emotions, challenges and pressure you’re dealing with in your job search. By openly expressing yourself, people will get to know you as a real person. If you want to take it to the next level, create videos. You can discuss matters relevant to your field. In addition to LinkedIn, also pay attention to other social media platforms that are relevant to your profession.

Set a schedule to contribute on a consistent basis. If you only post once in a while, you’ll get lost. Post regularly, so people get to know you and become interested in what you have to say next. You’ll start building an audience by continually marketing yourself. People will feel like they know you and will gladly help you out with job leads.

Aggressively reach out to recruiters and human resources professionals at companies you desire to work for. Contact anyone you know that could offer a lead. This is not the time to be shy. Even if you’re an introvert, push yourself to seek out assistance. If you’re uncomfortable initiating a phone or video call, send an email or contact them on social media platforms. The worst thing that could happen is that they don’t get back to you. The best thing is that you’ll find a great new job through a kind referral.

There are a number of online video meetups for job seekers to replace the pre-Covid-19, in-person networking events. Join them, participate and make yourself known. This will help build up another level of network—on top of what you already have. If you’re feeling brave, ask people who may be of assistance with your search to hop on a quick video call.

Even armed with this advice, I understand that it may not be easy for you. Start small and build from there. Your self-confidence will steadily increase. You’ll feel much better about yourself once you take control of your search. People will sense your new passion. Before you know it, they will start sharing job opportunities with you!

 

Forbes.com | November 1, 2020 | Jack Kelly 

#JobSearch : A 7-Step Job Search Plan To Beat The Tough Economy. A Seven Step Job Search Plan that has Gotten Results!

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Job searches go faster when job-seekers first take a step back to plan strategically. And careful planning has become even more important during these challenging economic times. Think of it this way; your “job” in a job search is to be a world-class consultative salesperson, for yourself. So do what the best salespeople do: plan carefully first, to get the highest return on your time investment.

Here’s a seven step job search plan that has gotten results for my clients, and that any great salesperson would appreciate. 

1. Start with the audience. Define your audience using two parameters so that you can understand and market to them effectively. Vary one of these two parameters and your pitch needs to change to resonate with the new audience:

  • The position description, including the level. “Finance” doesn’t cut it; “Chief Finance Officer” or “Financial Analyst” does, because of the very different ways you need to sell yourself for each of these roles.
  • The type of organization, including the industry, for profit vs. non-profit, startup or global Fortune 100, and so forth. For example, a CFO at a startup will be expected to pitch in beyond their finance role more so than would a CFO at an established global company.

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

Article continued …

2. Craft messages that will resonate with your target audience in your resumes, LinkedIn profile, emails, cover letters, and your networking and interview pitches. Which keywords, phrases, skills and experience would gain their interest? Find out by researching a) the words and phrases used in job postings, b) the LinkedIn profile content of those that do what you want to do, c) online publications for your field, d) blog posts and articles of relevant thought-leaders, and e) the “Investors” section on public company websites.

3. Make sure your target audience is big enough. Does your job target have enough potential so that your search won’t become a years-long odyssey? By “potential,” I mean the number of positions that exist, whether open or filled. You want to fish in a sea with a lot of fish so you’re more likely to catch one! Try to target roughly 200 potential positions, to help ensure you can complete your search in two to four months.

For example, a client was looking for a Chief Marketing Officer role at mid-sized technology companies in a remote part of the U.S. and identified 13 companies that met the definition. She thus identified only 13 potential positions, since each of these 13 companies has only one CMO.

This small number implies a very long search given that most positions will be filled, and for those that are not she would be competing with lots of candidates. She was ultimately able to target roughly 200 potential positions by expanding her geography, the types of roles she was willing to accept, and the industries to which she was open. And she did in fact land a role about three months after expanding her audience.

4. Prioritize your valuable job search time. Plan to spend 80% of your time on the “active” marketing channels that are getting my clients (and my colleagues’ clients) roughly 80% of their interviews: networking (that is, getting introductions) and cold-calls/emails. Spend the remaining 20% of your time on the “passive” channels for getting interviews – job postings and search firms.

5. Think broadly about your network, then plan how you want to reach out. Aim to let at least 200 people know about your search. Include family, friends, colleagues you haven’t spoken to in years who might be open to helping you, former classmates, your neighbor and so forth. One of my clients landed an interview after reaching out to a former business school classmate she hadn’t spoken with in 17 years. This is typical.

Then segment your outreach by those who will receive a) a mass “Your help requested” email vs. individual emails, b) a highly personalized vs. templated email, and c) an informational meeting request vs. a referral request or simply an update on your job search.

6. Create a one-page marketing-plan document. Plan to share this document with those who are well connected in your field, as it will make it easier for them to help you. Consider emailing the document prior to, or even during, an informational meeting. In the document, include a) your job target, b) how you can help/what differentiates you, and c) a list of the better known organizations that you’re targeting, with the hope that they’ll more likely think of someone they can refer you to if they see the organization names.

7. Set up your contact management system. You’ll want to keep in touch with everyone in your broadly defined network so no opportunities pass you by. To do so, you’ll need to keep track of, and schedule, your individual outreach efforts.

Whether your system consists of a simple spreadsheet (like most of my clients) or something more sophisticated, every contact should have “next action,” “date of next action” and “priority” fields next to their name. This way you’ll always know what to do on a given day and ensure no opportunities slip through the cracks. Adding a “last action” field is also useful to see how you have been spending your time. Click here to download an example of what this spreadsheet might look like (customize to make it work for you). Plan to follow up with everyone in your system every three to six weeks.

Jobseekers often struggle with what to say when keeping in touch, and I routinely get asked about this. Here’s what to say.

 

Forbes.com | October 21, 2020 | Robert Hellmann 

#JobSearch : Your Networking Conversation Script In 5 Steps. Follow These 5 Steps and you’ll Be a Networking Call Pro in No Time.

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Most of my clients cringe at the word “networking.” Networking can feel like an impersonal exchange of pleasantries at best, and an uncomfortable ask for a favor at worst.

But, remember:

1) Most people love talking about themselves. Never feel guilty asking for a conversation. Your job will be to ask a lot of thoughtful questions and listen. The receiver will most likely be pleased to oblige.

2) In general, people enjoy providing value to others. People like helping others. You’re not going to force someone to jump on a Zoom call with you unless they want to.

Even knowing these two powerful facts, having a step-by-step process for the actual networking conversation itself can be helpful.

Here’s your go-to 5-step script for your next networking conversation:

1. If you asked for the conversation, take control up front.

Uncertainty at the beginning of a call can be awkward. After an initial exchange of pleasantries simply say: “Thank you so much for jumping on the phone to talk with me today. Perhaps first it would be helpful to give you a brief background on myself and the context for this call. Then, I’d love to hear a little bit more about your background and how you ended up at [X company] and then, time permitting, it would be great to ask you some questions at the end. How does that sound?”

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

Article continued …

2. Have your spiel down pat, and no more than 45 seconds.

Write down and prepare your 30-45 second narrative (or as I like to call it, your “spiel.”) Do not leave this part of the conversation up to chance, because you may talk for longer than is appropriate. Your spiel should briefly explain your professional past, (where you’ve been) current state (where you are), and future goals (where you want to go).

3. Ask specific and thoughtful questions you can’t get from the website.

Don’t ask basic questions that you simply could have googled. Make your questions personal. Going Places, a female-founded company that helps individuals navigate the job search says to use the following question structure, time permitting:

  • Two questions about the person. (How was your experience in sales different from [Company X] to [Company Y]? I saw you published a book 5 years ago. That’s awesome. How is that doing? What was the process like getting it published?)
  • One question about the company. (What’s the company culture like on your team?)
  • One question about the industry. (I saw that you’re blocking political ads on the platform. Was that something everyone feels positively about internally?)

4. Make an ask… tactfully.

At the end of the call, a person may ask what they can do for you. Even if the person doesn’t ask that question, though, don’t let that deter you. According to Going Places, “Ask your ask! And make sure it does not require extra work for [the person you’re asking]. Whether it’s a referral or advice, you need to understand the follow-up steps required and plan ahead of time. (Example: if you want an e-introduction to another person within the company, draft the email for them! Then, the most the person should have to do is forward that email.)” I tell my clients: Make your ask SEA: Simple and Easily Accomplished.

5. You should walk away with 3 nouns: people, places, or things.

Your goal should be to leave the conversation with three takeaways. Keep in mind, these can be resources like books or articles to read, other individuals to speak to, other companies to look into, or a new phrase, idea or technology you hadn’t heard of. I’m a believer in the “tree-branch effect” of networking: if each conversation leads you to three nouns, and then each of those nouns leads you to three more nouns, you’ll amplify your effect.

Follow these 5 steps and you’ll be a networking call pro in no time. And, don’t forget your thank you note!

Forbes.com | October 1, 2020 | Julia Wuench

#JobSearch : Are You Sabotaging Your Job Search Efforts? Common Lies People Tell Themselves & How to Avoid Them.

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Unless you are independently wealthy, you’ll be on the job hunt at some point in your life. If you’re lucky, you won’t find yourself looking for a job very often. With that said, when you are seeking a job, you might be out of practice. It’s also possible that you may be inadvertently doing things to sabotage yourself while job hunting.

 

Take a look at some of the common lies people tell themselves about their job search, and how you can avoid them.

1- I can wait a few weeks to look for a job. I have money saved up.
This is a very dangerous job-hunting mistake, mostly because it’s a slippery slope. It starts off as a few days of rest, and then a week. One week of sitting at home turns into two, and before you know it, you find that you’ve lost the motivation to look for a good job. Maybe you’ve gotten accustomed to sleeping in, or perhaps you’ve moved in with a relative who is allowing you to mooch without demanding payment.

Whatever the reason, this can quickly lead to depression, and worse, the longer the amount of time that lapses from one job to another, the more potential employers want to know why you weren’t working. Do yourself a favor, and start looking immediately.

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

Article continued …

My Resume is just fine – I don’t need to re-do it.

If you’ve sent in your resume to multiple places, and you haven’t gotten a response, it’s probably time to tweak it. Add new experiences, play with the format, or have a professional resume written for you. Ideally, you really should be tweaking your resume every single time you send it out. It should always reflect the job you’re applying for, and it should also use the keywords that were in the job posting.

I don’t need to look for a job every day.
Yes, you do! You should be treating your job hunt as a 9-5 job. There are several reasons for this. First, by waking up early every day, networking, visiting businesses, dropping off and printing resumes, and scanning the job listings, you’re setting up a good schedule and work ethic so that you never get out of the habit of working hard. It’s also important, because if a month later you still haven’t found something, you know it won’t be because you aren’t trying. That can help stave off joblessness depression.

I can do all my job hunting online.
While the internet is a huge resource for finding a job, it’s certainly not the only one. If fact, the best way to find a job is to get a face-to-face meeting with someone. Dress in your best every day, and while you’re not scanning online job listings, you should be on the road. Visit every company you think you’d like to work in, and have a chat with whoever is at the front desk. Explain that you’re a skilled person at doing whatever it is you do, and ask politely to see the HR manager or hiring director. If you’re not allowed to meet with them, leave your resume, along with a handwritten note saying that you dropped by, and you’d love to have a chat with them about filling any needs the company has.

Finding a job is a full-time job. If you aren’t putting forth the effort to find one, don’t be surprised when you don’t.

 

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 | October 2, 2020

 

Targeting Your #JobSearch -You Choose Your Employer. A 6-Step Guide to Getting Interviews Without Online Job Boards.

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What’s the first question that comes to mind when you find yourself seeking new employment? If you asked, “Who’s hiring??”, you’re certainly not alone. It is a logical question – but not necessarily a good one.

One of the first thing I advise my clients to do is to forget about limiting their considerations to those companies posting want-ads on electronic job-search engines. That’s what everybody does, and it’s a feeding frenzy of futility. Certainly there are companies open to hiring that haven’t yet put out the word or that prefer to source candidates through means other than online channels.

In fact, 85% of jobs are filled through networking and professional referrals, according to both LinkedIn and Forbes. This is where all the real action is! If you want to exponentially improve your odds of scoring some interviews here’s a great strategy:

First, create a list of ten companies you’d LIKE to work for. If you don’t have a list in your head, you can easily come up with one with a bit of research. Perform a search on companies in your industry. Narrow parameters to ones represented in your area. Now for your due diligence:

  • What is their culture? Regarding beliefs and behaviors that determine how a company’s employees and management interact, look up their leadership on LinkedIn or examine their social media presence for clues. Some companies will appear stuffy and corporate while others will seem loose and fun – go for a stylistic fit
  • Do they appear to be a successful operation with much to offer? Review the company’s website and compare with competitors. Are they competitive from a standpoint of pricing, product offerings & service? Do they have a unique market niche? Compare their websites to their main competitors. Great companies generally have great websites (the opposite is also true). You may even want to do a deep dive and see where their stock is going if it is a corporation, or investigate their earnings reports to see if they’re trending up or down.
  • What is the company’s Online Reputation? There are numerous companies you may utilize for researching a company’s reputation. Consider using Google, Yelp, Citysearch, Angieslist and other rating companies. Do not simply look at numeric rating, but read the actual reviews to glean valuable information on the company’s conduct and how they handle customers and their complaints.
  • Check Employee reviews at Glassdoor.com This site will offer reviews from former employees detailing their personal experiences with a former employer, as well as offering some general salary data. They will detail both pros and cons associated with their experience, even rating the CEO in many cases. It will typically be loaded with insights you would never be privy to otherwise, as people are remarkably candid here.
  • Does the company meet your mandatory prerequisites? Through a combination of the above means, you should be able to establish a company’s proximity to your location, whether they offer benefits, if they allow pets, if they are an established company or a start-up, etc.

Now that you have your list of companies to target, it’s time to make your approach. Unless you want to wade into the black hole of the HR resume repository – a realm from which few escape – you’ll want to go for a style of direct approach that will literally circumvent the gatekeepers. The last thing you want to do is submit your resume through a conventional company website and subject your resume to the robotic ATS algorithms designed to judge a candidate’s merit by nebulous ‘keywords’.

I advocate a more direct approach, which involves focusing on targeting key individuals within a company. In Top Down Method: a 6-Step Guide to Getting Interviews Without Online Job Boards, I detail this guerilla tactic that will distinguish you as a true go-getter and separate you from the pack. It will also help you uncover undisclosed opportunities where no one else is looking. Imagine participating in a race where you’re the only competitor – the smart money’s on you to win! So exit convention, decide who YOU want to work for, use this unconventional approach and prepare for unconventional results!

FSC Career Blog Author:  Derek Unnasch, author of Top Down Method:  eliteXtraining.com 

                                           A 6-Step Guide to Getting Interviews Without Online Job Boards

 

FSC Career Blog |  September 23, 2020